Antaeus, L.A.'s classical theater ensemble, opens its 2015 season with a fully partner-cast production of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part One. Previews began March 6, with two opening nights set for last night, March 12, and tonight, March 13, (one with each cast) at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo. Michael Murray directs. Scroll down for a first look at the casts in action!
Part comedy, part tragedy, part growing-up tale of youthful rebellion, Henry IV, Part One remains one of Shakespeare's most exciting histories. From drunken revelry to the bloody battlefield, Antaeus' lean and muscular version, streamlined for a cast of 12, dives deep into the heart of the timeless question, "What does it mean to become a man?"
In the Antaeus tradition best known as "partner casting," two actors share every role, working together throughout the rehearsal process to enrich the creative experience for both cast and audience. Young Prince Hal (Ramón de Ocampo and
Michael Kirby) is a king in the making. He is the son of England's King Henry IV (
James Sutorius and Joel Swetow), who usurped the crown from King Richard II. But Hal is not interested in princely matters, and wastes his time in taverns with the lower classes, particularly a bunch of rowdy, drunken thieves, presided over by the fat, merry and wanton knight, Sir John Falstaff (
Stephen Caffrey and
Gregory Itzin). Both King Henry and Falstaff offer the young lad fatherly advice. But whose will he follow-that of his stern, proper and penitent biological father, or the robust liar, cynical pragmatist and lover of life, Falstaff? The young prince is forced to sober up quickly when his father's crown is threatened by a rebellion, led by the turncoat Henry "Hotspur" Percy (
Daniel Bess and
Joe Holt). To defend his father and his country, Hal must forsake his dissolute and bawdy ways, returning home as a prodigal son.
Rounding out the cast in multiple roles are Sally Hughes and Desirée Mee Jung as Lady Percy, Francis and others;
Mark Bramhall and
Joe Hulseras Westmoreland, Glendower and more;
Mitchell Edmonds and Marcelo Tubert as Northumberland, Bardolph and Chamberlain; Jesse Gavin and
Jason Turner as Poins and others;
Tony Amendola and
Bo Foxworth as Worcester and the Sheriff;
Tro Shaw and
Danielle Thorpe as Gadshill and Lady Mortimer;
Rhonda Aldrich and
Elizabeth Dennehy as Mistress Quickly, Vernon and more; and
Adam J. Smith and Jeff Torres as Blunt and Mortimer.
Scenic design for Henry IV, Part One is by François-Pierre Couture; lighting design is by
Michael Gend; costume design is by Terri A. Lewis; sound design is by Peter Bayne; props design is by
Adam Meyer; fight choreography is by Ken Merckx; dramaturge is
Armin Shimerman; assistant directors are Maureen Lee Lenker and
Rachel Berney Needleman; assistant stage managers are Anne Kelly and Emily Lehrer; and the production stage manager is Kristin Weber.
Performances of Henry IV, Part One take place March 12 through May 3 on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. (no matinee performance on Saturday, March 14). Tickets to the opening night performances on March 12 and March 13 are $34, after which all tickets are $30 on Thursdays and Fridays and $34 on Saturdays and Sundays; previews are $15. The Antaeus Company is located at 5112 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood, CA 91601. For reservations and information, call 818-506-1983 or go to
www.antaeus.org.
