Written by Eve Speer
“This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;”
Henry V, Act 4:3
Friday night, I went to see the first performance of Grassroots Shakespeare’s production of Henry V. It was a gorgeous spring evening in May. There were no chairs–so we settled happily on the grass at the beautiful Scera Park in Orem. (See http://www.grassrootsshakespeare.com/now-playing.html for more performance dates and places.) The more experienced audience members spread out blankets and pulled out lawn chairs. At the back of the clearing was a sign announcing the evening’s performance. It invited everyone to enjoy the performance–and then donate whatever they wanted after the show. Before the show opened, musicians (Rob Starks, Betty Starks, etc.) came out onto the stage and set the tone for the performance.
As the cast came forward to talk about the original staging practices–I leaned forward. The original performers had no director, there were no fancy lights, no big sets, minimal rehearsals, and creative casting. And most importantly, the audience was an important part of the performance. This cast does it like Shakespeare did–no director, little rehearsal, nothing fancy. Just brilliant.
The cast was young and filled with energy. The moment that Kailey Azure Green hit the stage, the audience was captured. She took the audience on a splendid ride from England to France, and back again.
“There is the playhouse now, there must you sit:
And thence to France shall we convey you safe,
And bring you back, charming the narrow seas
To give you gentle pass;” Prologue
One of my favorite aspects of original staging practices is the opportunity for each actor to express his or her character with their own costume choices. The actor understands the character better than anyone and they can convey so much about the character’s status and disposition in their costume. The pompous dauphin, played with perfection by Dallin Halls, came out in skinny jeans.
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Jason Sullivan (Henry himself) was the perfect combination of wit, courage, and vulnerability. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a more perfect Harry. Harry has all the words in the world for his soldiers, giving one inspiring speech after another. But for his French princess, played magically by Charlotte Martell Andrews, he seemed lost for words.
“I know no ways to mince it in love, but
directly to say ‘I love you:’ then if you urge me
farther than to say ‘do you in faith?’ I wear out
my suit. Give me your answer; i’ faith, do: and so
clap hands and a bargain: how say you, lady?”
Henry V, Act 5:2
The conversation between Henry and the Princess Katherine brought up all sorts of thoughts about objectifying women and feelings about how I am really happy to be a woman of this time and place. But then again, if a bumbling conqueror, with such sincerity ever asked to bargain for my person, I don’t know that I could resist.
The quality of a Shakespearean production is not measured by princes and princesses, but by the clowns. Incorporating comedia masks, Addison Radle (Nym), Steven Pond (Bardolph), and Brooks Lindberg (Pistol), wore their whole character in every part of their carriage. The audience roared with laughter as the actors found fleshy humor in every movement and word. Jessica Myer’s Hostess was perfectly awkward and radiant as each man said their goodbyes to her as they headed off to France for the wars. Myers returned to the stage as the fiery Welsh Fluellen.
Alexandra Russell was barely recognizable as she played the waiting woman/bad interpreter Alice and a French nobleman. The dear French. How horrible to play a Frenchman in Henry V. Tim Peay, Dominic Zappala, and Dallin Halls did their best, but when Harry comes out into the crowd to raise up the whole audience to fight against the French, you don’t stand a chance of winning our love.
The whole show was fast-paced, energetic, and the audience loved every minute. They cut the show down to a respectable 90-minute performance. There’s nothing quite so beautiful as a summer night in Utah. Do yourself a favor and go sit out on the grass and see a well performed production. Bring cash or credit and donate generously so the company will be able to continue creating beautiful shows for audiences to enjoy. (Suggested donation is only $3…but I encourage you to be prepared to give at least as much as you would to see a movie.) The company is touring throughout Utah this summer, for information on showtimes and places, visit their website http://www.grassrootsshakespeare.com/now-playing.html. They will be performing Henry V and As You Like It in repertory all summer long.
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