Hal & Falstaff: Langston’s review in the Ottawa Citizen
Katie Richardson as Prince Hal, Matthew JOhn Lundvall as Falstaff. Photo: Justin Van leeuvan
Who knew that William Shakespeare presaged punk?
That connection is one of many unexpected elements in this anarchically funny, flawed and mostly rewarding adaptation by Margo MacDonald of Shakespeare’s Henry IV parts 1 and 2 and some of Henry V.
At two and three-quarter hours including intermission, the show is a bit of a marathon. That’s true despite MacDonald, who also directs, having cherry-picked from the three plays to tell the story she’s interested in: the ill-fated relationship between Prince Hal, the future king of England who must set aside his rambunctious youth and companions to become a responsible leader, and Sir John Falstaff, the “huge hill of flesh” who is Hal’s principal companion and who never sets aside his wastrel ways…..
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Plays at the Gladstone Theatre September 3-8, at Shenkman Richcraft Studio 10 – 15, at Centrepoine, 17-22.
Published in the Ottawa Citizen, September 5, 2012.