Henry IV, Part 2
2010: Dominic Dromgoole

This is a continuation of the same year’s Henry IV, Part 1 at the London Globe Theatre, with largely the same cast; much of what I have said about that performance holds true here as well. The play itself is somewhat more serious than Henry IV, Part 1, and Dromgoole’s direction does not seem to try to turn quite as much of it into burlesque, but that is still his apparent stock in trade. Even here, there is abundant crude or distasteful stage business, including vomiting and urination. Random outbursts of aimless activity keep everyone running around the stage and shouting aimlessly, which wins applause from the audience. I clearly don’t adequately appreciate these things. (In large measure those same players fill the relevant roles in the 2013 Henry V as well.)

As previously, Prince Hal is relatively bland and uninteresting in a problematic role, though he seems to grow into it somewhat; Roger Allam as Falstaff holds the stage entirely when he’s on it, though the role becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.

Barbara Marten, known chiefly for British television, plays the roles of Mistress Quickly and Lady Northumberland well, and the oscillation between the two is interesting to watch. Sam Crane, who played Hotspur in Henry IV, Part 1, is here in the chiefly comic role of Pistol, and shows his range in the comparison. Oliver Cotton carries the role of Henry IV with dignity through to its gloomy conclusion.

All in all, this is worth watching for some of the individual performances, but as a whole it seems sloppily conceived and pitched mostly at showing that Shakespeare’s place are as common and vulgar as man other contemporary entertainments.

Buy Henry IV, Part 2 from Amazon.