On Saturday Seattle Shakespeare Company performed its second showing of Henry V directed by George Mount. Lead by David Hogan as Henry V, the performance of the entire cast was spot-on. The play was modern and mirrors Western military themes with well-executed sound effects, stage combat and cohesive transitions between scenes. The crew moved through the limited space comfortably during battle scenes by using scaffolding to add a vertical dimension to the stage.
As the final installment of a tetralogy, the play starts as Henry V, now of age, claims the French throne for his own. But after being offended by the Dauphin’s derisive gift of tennis balls, he decides to wage war against France. He leads the English to a huge victory and proceeds to convince Katherine, daughter of the French King, to wed him.
David Hogan’s performance was exceptional and his deliverance of King Henry’s famous St. Crispin’s Day Speech was flawless and received a well-earned round of applause from the audience.
Another star of the show, Matthew Gilbert, portrayed the comedic character of Fluellen by adapting his mocked Welsh accent into a droll southwestern one. The addition of pilot sunglasses, the occasional cigar, and a crew cut were nice touches.
To top it off, Caroline Marie Monroe, who plays Katherine, and Annie Lareau, cast as Queen Isabelle, also gave strong performances and showed natural talent in roles that were performed almost entirely in French.
I’m impressed with this group of actors who work so well together. The performance’s modern militaristic style may be inappropriate for younger viewers. There is a violent scene in which a traitor is shot suddenly at point blank range instead of being hung as was originally written. The scene creeps up suddenly and can catch audience viewers off guard if not prepared. That being said, the performance of this crew was natural and admirable.
“Henry V” by William Shakespeare, directed by George Mount, will be playing at several parks in the Seattle area through August 11. Showtime details and other information can be found at www.seattleshakespeare.org