William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I features several larger than life characters.
Prince Harry, or Hal as his friends call him, is the son of King Henry IV. He has a very strained relationship with his father who doesn't approve of his son's behavior which isn't exactly becoming of a royal, with Harry spending a lot of his time drinking at bars with his closest friend Falstaff.
Falstaff is a funny, large, quick witted older man who instructs Harry in the finer ways of the world, which include alcohol, women and thievery.
Hotspur is a member of the powerful Percy family which helped put Henry on the throne but don't believe they ever got repaid for their efforts. That lack of gratitude spurs the obsessive and impatient Hotspur on to plot to overthrow the King and along the way spurs Harry to grow up.
Our friends at Southwest Shakespeare Company, which presents Henry IV, Part I from March 23rd to April 7th, recently asked the actors who play these three colorful characters some questions about their roles and the impact Shakespeare has on their lives.
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| Keath Hall as Sir John Falstaff |
KEATH HALL
Who is your character and what part do they play in the story of Henry 4? What is your favorite
thing about them?
My character is Sir John Falstaff, the hilariously boisterous, morally bankrupt, lover of life who will sink to any action that benefits him. His love for his friend Hal is his saving grace and curse.
What does William Shakespeare mean to you? What impact has he made on your life?
A good chunk of my life has been spent performing the works of The Bard. When you read enough of an author there is an intimate connection the reader feels and some understanding of how the writer's mind works. The works of William Shakespeare expose universal threads of thought and feeling that have helped me to be a whole person.
Would you bring Falstaff to a family reunion?
Fortunately and unfortunately my family reunion is already full of Falstaffs. Humor and storytelling abound throughout my friends and family.
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| Tony Latham as Prince Hal |
Who is your character and what part do they play in the story of Henry 4? What is your favorite
thing about them?
My character is Prince Henry of Wales, future King of England. I am the heir apparent, but have been
spending far too much time with Falstaff, a drunkard, at the tavern. My favorite thing about Hal (Harry, Henry) is how lonely he is. If Hal were a social media site, he'd be Twitter; thousands of followers, no DMs.
What does William Shakespeare mean to you? What impact has he made on your life?
Shakespeare is like the theatre bible. He's quoted in so many different mediums, people know him though they hardly know theatre. The reason is that not only are the stories well written, iambic pentameter is not the easiest way to write, but they are also funny, touching, timeless, and often times bloody. Shakespeare has played a big part in my life. It helped me to focus my craft as an actor. Each character, no matter how small, is complex and gives any actor lots to play with.
Who do you think is a better kisser: Hal or Hotspur?
Consensus was Hotspur.
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| Josh Murphy as Harry Percy (Hotspur) |
Who is your character and what part do they play in the story of Henry 4? What is your favorite
thing about them?
I play Hotspur, one of Shakespeare's great antagonists, and a driving force in the play's action. He is a rebellious subject, but his indignation is righteous and he lives for a glorious death. My favorite thing about Hotspur are the words that Shakespeare has given him to speak: topsy-turvey, skimble-skamble, nimble-footed madcap - the words are just so much fun, filled with passion and fire!
What does William Shakespeare mean to you? What impact has he made on your life?
I remember thinking in school, like most of us probably did, 'Why do I have to read 400 year old plays?' But, thankfully, I remember also going to Chicago Shakespeare and seeing a professional production of Troilus & Cressida, and not only was I blown away by the technical elements, but, more importantly, for the first time, I totally understood the language! That was when I realized that it was the actors and director who held the key to making Shakespeare alive and accessible to a modern audience; I wanted to be able to do that, too. So, for me, Shakespeare is an opportunity to demystify something that people, all too often, dismiss as too difficult.
Who do you think is a better kisser: Hal or Hotspur?
Without question, Hotspur is the better kisser.
CLICK HERE for for more information on this production, which runs March 23rd to April 7th
photos by Laura Durant
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