if you’re an actor, you have your favorites. or maybe a better word would be wishes. wants. those plays that you would love to see, love to produce, love to perform and love to direct. somewhere near the top of my stack is mighty bill’s henry v. and i’ll be honest, i was sold first on the play not by the text or any on-stage production, but by a young kenneth brannagh’s fierce cinematic interpretation. his henry is so human, so earnestly burdened with the responsibilities of royalty that your heart breaks with each dreadful decision and soars with every inspired speech. would i want to play henry? perhaps, though the role of exeter has a kind of good-guy menace that makes me smile. no, the role i love is the chorus, because of the college professor at-the-scene quality of the lines that give you the sense that someone wants to make sure you not only know what is about to happen, but why it is happenning and why you should pay attention.
for a more modern take on old hank five, atlantans might be well-advised to head north this weekend for a bit of athenian theatre. town & gown second stage’s production of henry v will run for three days only, starting this friday evening and ending with a matinee on sunday afternoon. your only cost would be the fuel to push your vehicle there and back, plus five bucks for a seat, and culture that cheap is rare. for more information, take a look in today’s banner-herald.
