Brush Up Your Shakespeare

After last night’s light heartedness, it was very much a change of mood tonight. We had been wanting to see some Shakespeare for a while, and when I found out that Richard Coyle’s adaptation of Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 - “Player Kings” - starring Sir Ian McKellen as Falstaff, was having a run in Manchester before transferring for a summer in the West End, it was just too good an opportunity to miss.
And it was a superb evening. The performance started at 6.30, so we knew we were in for a long night. The first half was effectively Henry IV Part 1 and I have never known two hours fly by so quickly, such was the quality of the acting, staging, scenery and props. Sir Ian really brought out the humour in the character of Falstaff - I don’t think I’ve ever heard that many laughs before at a performance of Shakespeare!
After the interval, we got Part 2 which, it has to be said, doesn’t grip you quite as much as Part 1. Fortunately (possibly to compensate?) it was also much shorter, so it was finished by 10.15 and the cast were rewarded with a very well deserved standing ovation from the capacity audience.
It really was an outstanding production and if you get a chance to see it, you really should. Only one more week in Manchester and then it transfers to London.
That’s definitely our cultural fill for this year, though we would like to try and see something by the RSC in Stratford next year. Next week though it’s back to our more normal fare of old/obscure groups. Blips to follow in due course…