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—The British traitors ( l-r: Kevin K. James, Andrew McNee and Charlie Gallant) are sentenced to be hanged by King Henry (Alessandro Juliani) in HENRY V at Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival 2010. Photo: David Blue. HENRY V “HENRY V” JOINS BARD’S STUDIO STAGE Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival continues its Studio Stage programming and The Kings History Cycle with the powerful historical drama Henry V. It plays Tuesdays through Sundays in the 240-seat intimate Douglas Campbell Studio Stage tent in Vanier Park from July 14 through September 24, 2010. Director Meg Roe returns to Bard following her critically acclaimed staging of The Tempest in 2008. King Henry V, formerly the wayward Price Hal, has recently come to the throne. Spurred on by church leaders and an insulting gift from France, he sets out to conquer his enemy, discovering within himself the vision and leadership to inspire a nation. From his rousing speeches on the battlefield to his tender stumbling as he woos the Princess of France, this young king matures to consider the broader questions of leadership and nationalism and finds the courage to rally his “band of brothers” against impossible odds. Continuing from where the play Falstaff ends, Alessandro Juliani returns as the recently-crowned King Henry V. Luc Roderique is the King’s brother, the Duke of Gloucester; Duncan Fraser is the King’s uncle, the Duke of Exeter, and Todd Thomson is his cousin, the Earl of Westmoreland. They are joined on the battlefield by Andrew McNee as Fluellen. Colleen Wheeler continues her role of Mistress Quickly from Falstaff as do the King’s former friends: Pistol played by Kevin K. James, Bardolph played by Bernard Cuffling, and David Marr as Nym. Joseph Gustafson joins the Company as the young Boy, In the French court, Kevin McNulty plays Charles VI, the King of France, Charlie Gallant is his son the Dauphin, and Bob Frazer is the disrespectful French herald, Montjoy, Amber Lewis plays Katharine, the Princess of France, and Kayla Deorksen is her gentlewoman Alice. For the very physical staging of Henry V, the Studio Stage set designed by Pam Johnson has been built like a fortress. Costume Designer Sheila White has created a conscious sameness for the two armies, dressing them in blues and greys. The worlds of the court and battlefields are brought to life by Owen Belton’s haunting sound design and Adrian Muir’s moody lighting. Choreographer Rob Kitsos creates a powerful staging of the endless wars assisted by Fight Director Nicholas Harrison. Stage Manager Joanne P. B. Smith is assisted by Assistant Stage Manager Samara Van Nostrand, and Apprentice Stage Manager Sara Robb. Performance details for Henry V are as follows:
Tickets are $38 (evenings); $18.75 to $31.50 (previews/matinees). |
