“Henry V” Reviewed by Carol Moore

****  Chicago Shakespeare’s Henry V is a fast moving action-filled production. It is martial, violent, nationalistic and very loud, but it still manages to include a bit of comic relief as well as moments of introspection. I remember the first time I saw Henry V, back in 2014, I said it was like watching the Military Channel, all war, all the time – and I just couldn’t get involved. This production had me from the moment the ensemble cast marched into the Courtyard Theatre singing A Pair of Brown Eyes (by the Pogues) – and as the Chorus deliver the Prologue – until the Chorus returns at the end. 4 Spotlights

This is an ensemble production. With the exception of King Henry, superbly played by CST newcomer, Elijah Jones, everyone is in the army (ensemble) while also playing multiple parts. The costuming reflects this. Everyone (male and female) wears ID tags, camouflage pants and combat boots. Whenever someone steps into a role, they don a cleric’s vestments, a nobleman’s officer jacket & hat, a French army jacket & kepi, even a princess’s gown, over the camo pants. Kudos to costume designer Michael Pavelka.

Cast members playing multiple roles include: Scott Aiello (Duke of Salisbury/Williams/Nym), Kevin Aoussou (Pistol/Duke of Burgundy), Donté Bonner (Duke of Exeter), Ronald L. Conner  (Bardolph/Duke of Orleans), Rachel Crowl (Fluellen/Grey), Alejandra Escalante (Dauphin of France/Bishop of Ely/Nell), Sean Fortunato (King of France/Erpingham/Duke of York), Kate Fry (Duke of Westmoreland/ Monsieur le Fer/Alice), Courtney Rikki Green (Katherine, Princess of France/Lad), Gregory Linington (Archbishop of Canterbury/Bates/Governor of Harfleur), Jaylon Muchison (Mountjoy/Scroop) and Adam Poss (Constable of France/Cambridge) The ensemble includes Angelena Browne, Emefa Dzodzomeno, Zachery Fueling, Madeline Gallagher, Will Karls, Brandon Luna, Ryan Reinke and Grace Wagner.

Shakespeare’s Henry V is a young and inexperienced king known more for his drinking and carousing with Falstaff but he’s turned his back on that life. Both church, nobles and adversaries underestimate Henry, based on his reputation. However, he’s streetwise and has an uncanny ability to read people and know who will betray him. As king, he shows himself to be a pragmatic politician who can lay blame on circumstances for decisions he’s already made. Once he decides to go to war, he shows himself to be an excellent battlefield tactician.
Henry thinks he has a claim to the throne of France through his ancestry. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Linington) and the Bishop of Ely (Escalante) who traced his ancestry plan to use their work to persuade Henry not to tax the Church.

After Henry made his claim to France, Mountjoy, the French Ambassador (Muchison), delivers a gift – tennis balls. This insult presents Henry with a reason to invade France, a decision he’d already made.Meanwhile, three of Henry’s closest friends, the Earl of Cambridge (Poss), Lord Scroop (Muchison) and Sir Thomas Gray (Crowl), have plotted against him so he orders their execution.Several of Falstaff’s drinking buddies join the army. Bardolph (Conner), Nym (Aiello) and Pistol Troy) and his former page, a Young Lad (Green) provide some comic relief with their antics. Bardolph is eventually executed for thievery. When the French kill the Young Lad, they vow vengeance.

The King of France (Fortunato) and his son, the snarky Dauphin (Escalante), greatly underestimate Henry and the strength of the English army. After Henry’s successful siege of Harfleur, Mountjoy again delivers a message filled with insults and taunts. The French king begins to assemble an army, but he never had them trained for battle. While the country prepares for war, Princess Katherine (Green) bathes while Alice, her gentlewoman (Fry) teaches her English.
Once again the singing Chorus marches into the theater to begins the second act. Crowding into a pub the night before the battle, they produce musical instruments and proceed to play and sing London Calling, Johnny comes marching home, Anarchy in the UK (the Sex Pistols) and soccer chants, to rev themselves up for the fight to come.
Kudos to Director Edward Hall on an amazing production. Fight Intimacy Director Rachel Flesher gets her own kudos for the intense fight scenes in which the chorus uses baseball bats to hit a couple of punching bags at full force while the characters never actually touch each other. Finally, I was blown away by Music Director Jon Trenchard’s musical selections.
I think Henry V is the history play which best reflects the futility of was. Henry had no easy decisions as he waged the war. Yes, he won France at Agincourt, but at what cost? He died soon after, leaving the two kingdoms to an infant son, Henry VI, who managed to lose France and end his reign with the War of the Roses.

Henry V is the very first production a fledgling Chicago Shakespeare Theater ever produced – on the rooftop of the Red Lion Pub in Lincoln Park.
Henry V runs through October 6th in the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier, Chicago. Parking in CST’s designated area in the Navy Pier Garage is available at a 40% discount with validation from CST.

Running time is two hours, 45 minutes, with an intermission.

Performances are Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:00 pm, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:00 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm.

Accessible performances: ASL duo-interpreted performance – Friday, September 27th at 7:00 pm; Audio-described performance with optional touch tour – Sunday, September 29th at 2:00 pm; Projected Spanish Translation – Tuesday, October 1st at 7:00 pm; Open-captioned performance – Wednesday, September 2nd at 1:00 & 7:00 pm.

Tickets start at $83. FYI (312) 595-5600 or www.chicagoshakes.com

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Henry V”.