This morning, the weather is atrocious: thunder, lightning and torrential rain. It makes me reflect on how lucky we were last night; not just with the weather but to see such a terrific production at such an iconic venue. Henry V is one of my favourite plays and includes some of Shakespeare’s most powerful speeches. I am often worried that these won’t be delivered well, and I might be disappointed. I have no such worries with Guildford Shakespeare Company (GSC). This fabulous company of just five actors are all experts, every word delivered clearly with the appropriate rhythm, making the most of Shakespeare’s beautiful language.
This production is a promenade performance, with the cast moving around the grounds of the Cathedral. Therefore, sets and props are limited by the performance space, much like Shakespeare tells his audience that the wooden O of a traditional theatre is too limited to show the proper size and power of the drama and they must use their own imagination to bring the drama to life. Director Caroline Devlin cleverly uses the five actors to bring more than 30 characters to life, so it is difficult to sum up each actor’s performance, as each is doing so much! Gavin Fowler is a brilliant Henry V, charismatic and inspiring whilst rallying his troops, and romantic when wooing Princess Catherine. He also seemed to particularly enjoy playing hostess Quickly in her bawdy drinking house! Matt Pinches plays so many parts I wonder how he remembers who he is supposed to be much of the time. I always particularly enjoy his comedic roles and thought he was fabulous as the Dauphin, Welsh Captain Fluellen and Alice the maid. Will Arundell also plays many roles and delivers them all in quite the most gorgeous voice I have heard in many years. Sarah Gobran and Nikita Johal complete the cast. I really admired how the traitors Scroop (Pinches), Cambridge (Gobran) and Grey (Arundell) were arrested and led off stage; remember there are only five people in the cast! I also enjoyed Princess Catherine’s (Johal) French lesson with her maid, Alice.
I really appreciated Devlin’s success with the comedy elements of Henry V. I love that the two bearded men get to play ladies! I would also praise the designer, Neil Irish, and the costume supervisor, Anett Black, for their role in helping the actors in conveying so many different characters, with their costume changes made in super-quick time. This did so much to make those characters both identifiable and believable.
Loved it, as usual. A GSC-guaranteed good night out.
Review by Sally Knipe
The once wild Prince Hal is now King; eager to prove himself. The French, even his own soldiers, question his readiness to lead. His response? To unite his country in a blistering campaign that will defy the odds and change the course of history.
Written by William Shakespeare
Adapted & Directed by Caroline Devlin
Designed by Neil Irish
Sound Design by Matt Eaton
AV Design by Beth Mann
15 JUNE – 01 JULY 2023
Guildford Cathedral
https://www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk/
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