Folger's Shakespeare Theatre: 1 Henry IV

There are three kinds of actors when it comes to presenting Shakespeare.  Well, three that are successful, although, they run a hierarchy that has a clear preference.  1) The memorizers - They know the lines and deliver the words.  2) The Mostly Get Its - They know the lines and grasp the arch of the story to the point that they can both sound convincing most of the time, AND hit the big moments with a certain panache.  3) The True Shakespeareans - The lines take a back seat to the character, because they are the character.  Over the years I have come to really admire level 3, and they are not common, even in an actor rich theatre city like Washington, D.C.  On the flip, you rarely have to deal with level one folk.  A play can be quite enjoyable with only level two calibre actors, too.  But the Level 3's?  They make the magic.

Folger is absolutely one of the most intimate theatre experiences in the region.  Everything that happens happens close.  You can't hide the flaws.  And when the action goes big, if can feel like you're pressed up against a giant balloon.  All of which contributes to the charm of attending theatre there.

The cast was about evenly divided between old and new faces.  The play starts with a scene showing King Henry IV getting up-dates on the various battles of rebellion that he is engaged in quelling.  The act who played the title role, Peter Crook, was new to me.  He looked every inch the part; however, I felt like he wasn't on his A-game.  Granted, as openings go, this one is a bit tedious, but it needn't be.  You know what they say about first impressions.  From that point on I relegated Mr. Crook to the lesser also included status and wondered if this were going to be simply a passable production. 

The play is two stories woven into one that tells the tale of a rebellious Prince Henry (Hal) heir to the throne and his drinking buddies, principle among them, one John Falstaff, on the one hand.  The king, his father's struggle to maintain his rule in the midst of betrayals and defections on the other.  Through the middle is young prince Hal's reckoning with his destiny.  Scene two and enter Hal and Falstaff after a night of wild partying.  Previous question, quickly answered.  The chemistry between Ed Gero's portrayal of Falstaff and Avery Whitted's young Prince Hal was immediate and engaging.  The lynch pin that gave the telling of this production its raison d'etre.  Gero is a well rounded actor of great renown in the DMV and for excellent reasons.  He's the 3rd type, the True Shakespearean.  Avery has the chops if not the depth of experience--which is also the very definition of the character Henry V.

Out of the opposing camp, the young buck aptly named Hotspur, son of the Lord of Northumberland, was played by Tyler Fauntleroy. with tremendous energy and excitement. In the pivotal battle scene where he and Avery dook it out with swords for the throne of England, the two young actors came together is great force and grace, it was exciting to watch the young men duel to the death. 

Kate Eastwood Norris took a pair of the lesser roles or Mistress Quickly, owner of the tavern where Hal and Falstaff party the nights away, and Vernon, the cousin of Hotspur.  Kate is one of the finest true Shakespearean actors I've every had the pleasure of watching perform.  She is just as amazing in these two roles, elevating the rest of the cast everytime she graced a line with her talents.

A specially acknowledgement goes to Jordan Lee in the role of Lady Mortimer.  First, delivering her lines in Welsh was impressive, but when she sang the lullaby acapella while Lord Mortimer rested his head in her lap, it was a transfixing moment that so captivated the entire audience you could have heard a gnat fart.

All the incidentals worked just fine: sets, lighting, costumes.  The choreography was especially noteworthy creating the anger and confusion during the battle scenes with great effect.

Much of the exterior of the Folger's Shakespeare Theatre and Library is obsured with scaffolding as the building is undergoing renovation.  Along the outer wall are a serious a large bas-relief sculptures depicting the characters from some of the plays.  As fate would have it, of the three still visible, 1 Henry IV was among them. 

Based on their association, I am guessing from Lt-Rt, they are Hotspur, Falstaff, and Prince Hal.