Set in the early 15th century, soon after his accession to the throne, King Henry V is considering whether to assert his right to rule France as well as England. He is encouraged to do so after consulting the Archbishop of Canterbury and his attack is spurred on by the gift of tennis balls sent by the Dauphin – a jibe at his youth.
The king's former companions from his days in the Eastcheap tavern hear of the death of Sir John Falstaff from Hostess Quickly and then they are soon recruited into the King's army. Despite the Dauphin's insistence that Henry is an unworthy opponent, the French king receives the English ambassadors, rejecting Henry's claim to the crown. Henry's forces advance, taking the town of Harfleur. While her father rouses his nobles to retaliation, Princess Katherine begins to learn English with the help of her companion Alice.
Following the victory at Harfleur, the English forces begin a retreat through Normandy on account of the poor condition of the men, who are disheartened by sickness and foul weather. Even so, Henry rejects the French Herald's offer of ransom and the two armies prepare to fight once more.
On the eve of the battle of Agincourt, Henry tours the camp in disguise and, sounding out the opinions of his men, is led to consider the heavy responsibilities of kingship. In the French camp, by contrast, confidence is high. As battle is joined, Henry rallies his troops and places them all in God's hands. An English victory is confirmed, with miraculously small losses. As part of the subsequent treaty, Henry woos and wins Katherine to ensure the linking of the two countries through marriage.
(http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/shakespeare/plays/henry-v/synopsis.aspx)
Dating the play:
Unlike many of Shakespeare's plays we can almost say exactly when he wrote, having explicit references to events in history.
In Act V the Chorus likens Henry's return to that of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, who was joyfully met by crowded streets of London anticipating his return from crushing the Irish rebel, Tyrone, on 27 March 1599:
Performances:
Henry V would've originally been performed in daylight on thrust staging within the 'wooden O' of an Elizabethan playhouse (possibly The Globe). This is where the balcony up stage could behave as the walls of Harfleur, against which English scaling ladders could be propped to show one of the key scenes of the play. It would've lacked any naturalistic scenery and had minimum props to allow the action to flow swiftly, letting the audience just enjoy the physical action and language of the play. Music was also key, as was costume, especially to display the royal and military presence in the play.
Following the convention of the period, the cast was entirely male, with smaller roles doubled and female roles were played by boys. Shakespeare wrote the title role for Richard Burbage, the leading man of the Lord Chamberlain's Company, in efforts to highlight his superb vocal technique and winning physical presence.
The play was still in the Company's repertoire six years after its first appearance as an entry in the Revels Accounts shows that the play was performed before King James on 7 January 1605 as part of the court's Christmas celebrations.
The title page of the play's first printed edition, in 1600, describes the play as follows:
See this previous blog entry for character analysis of Charles VI:
http://zoesshakespeareblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/character-analysis-charles-vi.html
See this previous blog entry for different character interpretations:
http://zoesshakespeareblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/research-henry-v-play-character-charles.html
Different interpretations:
The Hollow Crown: Henry V (2012)-
Henry played by Tom Hiddlestone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c69fX3Iy1qQ
Henry V (1989)-
Henry played by Kenneth Branagh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zub5yGjm7TM
In my opinion the two interpretations above are both of traditional nature, set in the era in which Shakespeare had written it for, with costumes, location and props reflecting that. Although arguably the play would not have been written for TV/film, which is clearly stated in the opening prologue as the audience is asked to imagine the battles and vastness of the landscapes that could not be shown in theatres such as the Globe. It too would not have had female actors as these do, suggesting them to be traditional to the story but not how Shakespeare's plays would've been performed at the time.
The two, similarly to good period dramas, reflect accurately what life might have been like during the late 15th century, taking on board the ways in which characters might have spoken or behaved and different props or clothing they would've worn.
Bell Shakespeare-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bklGieU2YBY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RX5YkYdvcI (directors words)
Typically these two interpretations from Propeller and Bell Shakespeare are thought of as non-traditional, set in a contemporary setting with modern clothing, set and props and having a different context to each production. In Shakespeare's performances the play would just be performed, however both these are plays within plays performed by the primary characters to entertain themselves and understand the wars they are facing.
However they could be seen as traditional because they both have all male cast similar to Shakespeare's production with men having to play the female characters and multi-roling. The interpretations also used modern clothing which is what Shakespeare did at the time, using the clothing that was familiar to the audience.
The two directors both made conscious decisions to limit the props and set, giving the audience the power of their imaginations to bring the plays to life and following the first prologue's wishes.
References:
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/henryv/context.html
http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/shakespeare/plays/henry-v/
The king's former companions from his days in the Eastcheap tavern hear of the death of Sir John Falstaff from Hostess Quickly and then they are soon recruited into the King's army. Despite the Dauphin's insistence that Henry is an unworthy opponent, the French king receives the English ambassadors, rejecting Henry's claim to the crown. Henry's forces advance, taking the town of Harfleur. While her father rouses his nobles to retaliation, Princess Katherine begins to learn English with the help of her companion Alice.
Following the victory at Harfleur, the English forces begin a retreat through Normandy on account of the poor condition of the men, who are disheartened by sickness and foul weather. Even so, Henry rejects the French Herald's offer of ransom and the two armies prepare to fight once more.
On the eve of the battle of Agincourt, Henry tours the camp in disguise and, sounding out the opinions of his men, is led to consider the heavy responsibilities of kingship. In the French camp, by contrast, confidence is high. As battle is joined, Henry rallies his troops and places them all in God's hands. An English victory is confirmed, with miraculously small losses. As part of the subsequent treaty, Henry woos and wins Katherine to ensure the linking of the two countries through marriage.
(http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/shakespeare/plays/henry-v/synopsis.aspx)
Dating the play:
Unlike many of Shakespeare's plays we can almost say exactly when he wrote, having explicit references to events in history.
In Act V the Chorus likens Henry's return to that of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, who was joyfully met by crowded streets of London anticipating his return from crushing the Irish rebel, Tyrone, on 27 March 1599:
'As by a lower but high-loving likelihood,Were now the General of our gracious EmpressAs in good time he may - from Ireland coming,Bringing rebellion broached on his sword,How many would the peaceful city quitTo welcome him!' - (Act 5 Scene 1)However the Earl returned 28th September 1599 disgraced, his failure being known from June suggesting that Shakespeare's optimism portrayed in that speech would've had to have been written in the first half of that year.
Performances:
Henry V would've originally been performed in daylight on thrust staging within the 'wooden O' of an Elizabethan playhouse (possibly The Globe). This is where the balcony up stage could behave as the walls of Harfleur, against which English scaling ladders could be propped to show one of the key scenes of the play. It would've lacked any naturalistic scenery and had minimum props to allow the action to flow swiftly, letting the audience just enjoy the physical action and language of the play. Music was also key, as was costume, especially to display the royal and military presence in the play.
Following the convention of the period, the cast was entirely male, with smaller roles doubled and female roles were played by boys. Shakespeare wrote the title role for Richard Burbage, the leading man of the Lord Chamberlain's Company, in efforts to highlight his superb vocal technique and winning physical presence.
The play was still in the Company's repertoire six years after its first appearance as an entry in the Revels Accounts shows that the play was performed before King James on 7 January 1605 as part of the court's Christmas celebrations.
The title page of the play's first printed edition, in 1600, describes the play as follows:
'The Chronicle: history of Henry the fift, With his battell fought at Agin Court in France. Togither with Auntient Pistoll. As it hath bene sundry times playd by the Right honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his servants.'
See this previous blog entry for character analysis of Charles VI:
http://zoesshakespeareblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/character-analysis-charles-vi.html
See this previous blog entry for different character interpretations:
http://zoesshakespeareblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/research-henry-v-play-character-charles.html
Different interpretations:
The Hollow Crown: Henry V (2012)-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c69fX3Iy1qQ
Henry V (1989)-
Henry played by Kenneth Branagh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zub5yGjm7TM
In my opinion the two interpretations above are both of traditional nature, set in the era in which Shakespeare had written it for, with costumes, location and props reflecting that. Although arguably the play would not have been written for TV/film, which is clearly stated in the opening prologue as the audience is asked to imagine the battles and vastness of the landscapes that could not be shown in theatres such as the Globe. It too would not have had female actors as these do, suggesting them to be traditional to the story but not how Shakespeare's plays would've been performed at the time.
The two, similarly to good period dramas, reflect accurately what life might have been like during the late 15th century, taking on board the ways in which characters might have spoken or behaved and different props or clothing they would've worn.
Propeller Henry V-
https://youtu.be/EAlRanwBm78 (discussion)
"Hall’s modern-day squaddies are decked out in vests, dog tags, combat trousers and boots. And it’s not arrows that fly through the fields of Agincourt, but high- velocity bullets. It isn’t a loutish night out, though, even if it does continue the English tradition of poking fun at what Shakespeare called the ‘weasel’ Scot, not to mention mocking the haughty French and dressing up in drag. Dugald Bruce-Lockhart’s ferocious, but nimble and composed Henry, is a regular bloke: proud, earthy and emotional. The only oversight is that an all-white cast is unrepresentative of men serving overseas today."
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-2095789/Henry-V-The-Winters-Tale-review-Propeller-spins-male-magic.html)More information on Propeller's production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjH4grtjjQU
https://youtu.be/EAlRanwBm78 (discussion)
Bell Shakespeare-
"Damien Ryan’s vision for Henry V is inspired by a true story – in 1941, for 57 consecutive nights during the London Blitz, a group of boys trapped in a bunker rehearsed a new play each week and would then perform it for others in the shelter. This production explores the rite of passage that violence and conflict offer as a threshold to manhood. It confronts the fact that – for all the horrors of war – true courage and brotherhood can inspire remarkable achievements."
(https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/henry-v-2/)More information on Bell Shakespeare's production:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bklGieU2YBY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RX5YkYdvcI (directors words)
Typically these two interpretations from Propeller and Bell Shakespeare are thought of as non-traditional, set in a contemporary setting with modern clothing, set and props and having a different context to each production. In Shakespeare's performances the play would just be performed, however both these are plays within plays performed by the primary characters to entertain themselves and understand the wars they are facing.
However they could be seen as traditional because they both have all male cast similar to Shakespeare's production with men having to play the female characters and multi-roling. The interpretations also used modern clothing which is what Shakespeare did at the time, using the clothing that was familiar to the audience.
The two directors both made conscious decisions to limit the props and set, giving the audience the power of their imaginations to bring the plays to life and following the first prologue's wishes.
References:
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/henryv/context.html
http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/shakespeare/plays/henry-v/
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