History Plays - Guthrie Theatre

 The Guthrie Theater was founded on the idea of being a repertory theatre. What this means is that there is a core company of actors cast and performing in different shows that rotate. For example...the History Plays currently playing at the Guthrie. The actor playing the title role of Richard II in that play, also plays a different role in Henry IV, and possibly a different role in Henry V. And each night one of these three plays is being performed. Sometimes the shows in rep are all linked together, like the History Plays, and other times they are very different. It is a wonderful way to see actors play a wide variety of roles in a short time.

And that is what is happening right now at the Guthrie Theater. Joseph Haj decided to bring these three Shakespeare plays back into repertory. Why is this a big deal? The last time this was done at the Guthrie was the opening of the 1990-1991 season at the old space (next to the Walker Art Center). I don't recall how many marathon days they had (where you can watch all three plays in one day), but I do know that I was at one of them. Thirty years later, I also attended a marathon day, which also happened to be the opening night of Henry V. It was magical, and truly an incredible experience. 

Photo: Dan Norman

Richard II was not my favorite when I first saw it. I was young and enthralled with Richard III. Well, I'm older now, and I found it to be a really fantastic start to the day, and a really fantastic play. Tyler Michaels King plays Richard II. The stage is set with a single crown sitting in a spotlight in the center of the thrust. When the lights come up, King is standing center, holding the crown, before putting it on and moving to his throne. This is how each play begins...the king holds the crown, puts it on, and moves to his throne. You may ask why these three plays? Clearly Henry IV and Henry V have a connection, but how does Richard II fit in? Well, at the start of Richard II Henry Bolingbroke (played by William Sturdivant) is banished for possible treason. This is the core of the plot. I found Richard II to be a very political play, focused on how the political system of the time worked, and how Richard II was surrounded by flatterers, and others who told him what he wanted to hear. Bolingbroke eventually returns, and in a very powerful scene, takes the crown from Richard II and becomes Henry IV. The play is a serious one, not much music or action (fighting) but a wonderful play. I bring this up because I noticed during the marathon day that each play got more music, more fighting, more laughter. There is a build to seeing these plays back-to-back that you may not notice if you see them on various nights, or even in a random order.

Photo: Dan Norman

After a lunch break, Henry IV begins. In the same way, the lights come up with Sturdivant standing center, holding the crown, then moving back to the throne. Unlike my colleague from Cherry and Spoon, I did not re-read these plays before seeing them. So I am not sure how they combined part 1 and part 2 of Henry IV. What I can tell you is that Henry IV deals with a rebellion taking place in Wales and Scotland that the King has to deal with. Along with that, his son Prince Henry (played by Daniel José Molina), spends most of his time out of court hanging out in taverns with his friend Falstaff, and a gang of petty thieves. Here is where we get some humor, and some music. Here is also where we start getting some action. One of the rebels is Henry Percy (known as Hotspur). Played by one of my favorite actors John Catron, Hotspur brings action to the stage, wanting to take on the King's army. This eventually leads to a fight between Henry Percy, and Prince Henry. It should come as no surprise how it ends as the next play is Henry V. What may come as a surprise is the emotional quality of some of these final scenes between Sturdivant and Molina, along with a very moving scene between Molina and Jimmy Kieffer (playing Falstaff). Truly an amazing way to spend the afternoon. This play ended with another standing ovation, and it was time for a dinner break.

Photo: Dan Norman

Typically Henry V begins at 7pm or 7:30pm. Due to the nature of the marathon day, it started at 8:30pm. Again, it started with the King, Henry V (Molina) standing center holding the crown, putting it on his head and going to his throne. If I remember correctly, there was applause at the start of this show. Applause that became a standing ovation when the rest of the cast came on stage to start the play with the lines for the chorus. The incredible Stephen Yoakam started with the infamous line "O, for a muse of fire" and had to pause for another standing ovation. I recall this happening at the marathon 30 years ago as well, and if I remember Yoakam was also in that production. Needless to say, it was the start of an emotional ride. The scenes shifts from England to France, from a peaceful but tense court of Henry V, to a battlefield in France. While there is a lot of action in this play due to the war between England and France (and with war, there is death which can be tough), there are also some really nice quiet moments, and some very funny moments as well. Molina knows this character and the character arc so well, and is so truthful to the character. Honestly, all three Kings - King, Sturdivant, and Molina, knock these shows out of the park. At the end of Henry V, there is another standing ovation, lasting for a while, and getting louder when all three Kings come up center with crowns on to take a final bow.

While each show should be seen in what ever way you can, it is truly an incredible experience being part of a marathon audience. You get to know the people sitting around you, it really does create a shared experience which I think is so powerful. As per usual with Guthrie productions, everything was spot on. Lighting, make-up, wigs, costumes, acting...production values were high, and each play is so wonderful, each cast member is so fantastic...even in smaller roles. It was a wonderful way to spend a day, and I hope I don't have to wait another 30 years to do it again.