Henry IV Part II is the infrequently performed second half of Shakespeare’s Henry IV plays. Sometimes the two plays are condensed into a single production, as in the case of Orson Welles’ film Chimes at Midnight.
Together, the two halves of Henry IV detail the growth of Prince Henry, or Hal, the son of King Henry IV, the death of Henry IV and the growing rift between the prince and his old companion, Falstaff.
The play has two storylines. One follows Prince Hal (played by Butch Flowers in this recent production) as he deals with his dying father and the responsibilities of becoming king. The other deals with Falstaff (Richard Reiten), who seduces prostitutes, breaks the heart of his landlady and lies about triumphs in battle. A subplot follows Prince John (Tom Walton), Hal’s brother, as he crushes a rebellion against the king.
Overall, Northwest Classical Theatre Company’s production is enjoyable. Falstaff’s brawls with the other players are always engaging and sharply staged. The frequent knife fights are the high points of the production, as they are the most quickly paced and make the best use of the stage. Jayson Shanafelt’s turn as Pistol, who argues with prostitute Doll Tearsheet (Rhianna Walton) in front of Falstaff, is one of the highest points of the production.
The scenes that don’t involve combat tend to lag a bit. Actors seem to stand around when they don’t have lines, which renders the play’s slower scenes rote at best and, at worst, tedious.
Richard Reiten is perfectly cast as Falstaff, although occasionally, his delivery is a bit difficult to decipher. His landlady, Mistress Quickly (Bibi Walton) is one of the play’s funniest characters, and her shrill verbal exchanges with Falstaff are among the show’s best.
The rebellion scenes fall disappointingly flat until the entrance of Prince John. Walton gives an excellent performance as the cruel, manipulative prince and lights up the stage with his exit.
Chris Porter is a perfect King Henry, frail and concerned. His famous speech, ending with the line, “Uneasy rests the head that wears a crown,” is a pitch-perfect example of the all the reasons that Shakespeare is such a joy to see on stage.
Henry IV Part II
Shoe Box Theater
4319 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Thu–Sat, 8 p.m.
Runs through Nov. 21
$12