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A review by saareman
PLAYER KINGS: Shakespeare's Henry Iv Parts 1 & 2 by William Shakespeare
5.0
July 1, 2024 Update Despite earlier reports, the production has now announced that Sir Ian McKellen will not continue in the role of Falstaff for the production's national tour in July 2024.
Best Bits of Shakespeare's Henry IV
Review of the Nick Hern Books paperback edition (May 2, 2024) adapting William Shakespeare's [b:Henry IV, Part 1|32396|Henry IV, Part 1|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327876542l/32396._SY75_.jpg|3335240] (1598) and [b:Henry IV, Part 2|32398|Henry IV, Part 2|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388522767l/32398._SY75_.jpg|6172458] (1600).
Photograph by Manuel Harlan of a scene from "Player Kings" featuring Ian McKellen as Sir John Falstaff. Image sourced from PlayerKingsthePlay.co.uk.
I hadn't heard of Player Kings until I read about Sir Ian McKellen's accident of falling off the stage during a performance at the Noel Coward Theatre in London's West End on Monday June 17, 2024. McKellen was not severely injured and recovered in hospital and at home and is expected to return to the company for its UK tour in July 2024.
Looking up the play I saw from the playscript cover that it was done in modern dress with the Boar's Head Tavern scenes taking place in a present-day eggs and chips diner. I thought perhaps the text was a modernized adaptation of Shakespeare, but in fact it is an edited "best bits" selection using lines from both parts of Henry IV (from all the Quarto and Folio editions) but also bits from Henry V. An index at the back of the book provides notes as to the source of each selection. Some modern day replacements of archaic words are used, but it is mostly Shakespeare's text throughout.
So it is rather a play centering around the Sir John Falstaff character, an aging dissolute drunkard and thief who is the comic wayward father-figure to Prince Hal who avoids his royal duties until called into action during the Owen Glendower and Henry Percy rebellions against his actual father Henry IV. Upon IV's death, Hal is crowned Henry V and disavows the reprobate companions of his youth leaving Falstaff to die of a broken heart. The serious scenes of kingship and fighting the rebellions alternate with the comedy scenes in a tavern.
This is very much like what Orson Welles did with his film adaptation Chimes at Midnight, so there is precedent for this sort of adaptation. I very much enjoyed reading director Robert Icke's adaptation and would be happy to see it in the future if it ever plays in North America. I can't imagine Ian McKellen touring this far with it, but perhaps his performance will be recorded on film. At 85 years of age, there may not be many future roles that we'll see from that acclaimed actor.
Other Reviews
Ian McKellen is an unforgettable Falstaff, a review of a performance of the play by Sarah Hemming, Financial Times, April 12, 2024.
Trivia and Links
Jeanne Moreau as Doll Tearsheet and Orson Welles as John Falstaff in "Chimes at Midnight". Image sourced from Amazon.
Chimes at Midnight (1966) was adapted, directed and starred Orson Welles as Falstaff. Similar to Player Kings, Welles' adaptation combined Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 into a single work. A trailer from the Criterion DVD release is on YouTube here.
Following Ian McKellen’s injury during the West End run of Player Kings, his doctors’ advice is to take time off from work in order to fully recover. As such, he will not be returning to play Sir John Falstaff in the national tour of Player Kings (3 July – 27 July 2024). Ian continues to recuperate very well, but he needs the time to rest and ensure a complete recovery. We continue to send him our best wishes.
As it was for the final West End performances, the role of Falstaff will now be performed by David Semark, Ian’s brilliant understudy, for all tour dates of Player Kings. Please contact your point of purchase for more information.
Best Bits of Shakespeare's Henry IV
Review of the Nick Hern Books paperback edition (May 2, 2024) adapting William Shakespeare's [b:Henry IV, Part 1|32396|Henry IV, Part 1|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327876542l/32396._SY75_.jpg|3335240] (1598) and [b:Henry IV, Part 2|32398|Henry IV, Part 2|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388522767l/32398._SY75_.jpg|6172458] (1600).
FALSTAFF: there live not three good men unhanged in england / and one of them is fat and grows old.
Photograph by Manuel Harlan of a scene from "Player Kings" featuring Ian McKellen as Sir John Falstaff. Image sourced from PlayerKingsthePlay.co.uk.
I hadn't heard of Player Kings until I read about Sir Ian McKellen's accident of falling off the stage during a performance at the Noel Coward Theatre in London's West End on Monday June 17, 2024. McKellen was not severely injured and recovered in hospital and at home and is expected to return to the company for its UK tour in July 2024.
Looking up the play I saw from the playscript cover that it was done in modern dress with the Boar's Head Tavern scenes taking place in a present-day eggs and chips diner. I thought perhaps the text was a modernized adaptation of Shakespeare, but in fact it is an edited "best bits" selection using lines from both parts of Henry IV (from all the Quarto and Folio editions) but also bits from Henry V. An index at the back of the book provides notes as to the source of each selection. Some modern day replacements of archaic words are used, but it is mostly Shakespeare's text throughout.
So it is rather a play centering around the Sir John Falstaff character, an aging dissolute drunkard and thief who is the comic wayward father-figure to Prince Hal who avoids his royal duties until called into action during the Owen Glendower and Henry Percy rebellions against his actual father Henry IV. Upon IV's death, Hal is crowned Henry V and disavows the reprobate companions of his youth leaving Falstaff to die of a broken heart. The serious scenes of kingship and fighting the rebellions alternate with the comedy scenes in a tavern.
This is very much like what Orson Welles did with his film adaptation Chimes at Midnight, so there is precedent for this sort of adaptation. I very much enjoyed reading director Robert Icke's adaptation and would be happy to see it in the future if it ever plays in North America. I can't imagine Ian McKellen touring this far with it, but perhaps his performance will be recorded on film. At 85 years of age, there may not be many future roles that we'll see from that acclaimed actor.
Other Reviews
Ian McKellen is an unforgettable Falstaff, a review of a performance of the play by Sarah Hemming, Financial Times, April 12, 2024.
Trivia and Links
Jeanne Moreau as Doll Tearsheet and Orson Welles as John Falstaff in "Chimes at Midnight". Image sourced from Amazon.
Chimes at Midnight (1966) was adapted, directed and starred Orson Welles as Falstaff. Similar to Player Kings, Welles' adaptation combined Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 into a single work. A trailer from the Criterion DVD release is on YouTube here.