Theater Reviews

Jan 19, 2004 - Reno Little Theater's excellent "Henry IV"

By Jack Neal

The challenge of producing excellent Shakespeare is met head on by the Reno Little Theater. Everything is coming up roses for the company and for fans of the Bard lucky enough to experience a fine adaptation of "Henry IV" by two local thespians of considerable note, Kirk Gardner and Michael Peters.

Gluing together "Henry IV," Parts I and II, Gardner and Peters have come up with a tight 75 minutes for each part and a swift production that plays out neatly in two hours and forty-five minutes, including intermission. The production is being staged at the Hug High School Little Theater, RLT's temporary home, which necessitates the use of a minimal set that works like an unpolished charm.

The play's thirty scenes are transisted with brief musical interludes (effective even if played by what sounds like a somewhat less than wonderful synthesized brass ensemble). Not a moment is wasted in a production that literally flies by. Kudos to the direction of Michael Peters who sets a rapid pace and keeps it. Kudos also to Peters for assembling an excellent cast of 14 playing 40 roles, all of them brought off with aplomb and lots of professional dash.

Leo McBride is a standout as Sir John Falstaff, one of Shakespeare's most endearing, durable and lovable characters. Likewise thoroughly stage worthy are Joshua Jessup, a fun-loving, good-looking Prince of Wales and masterful king to be; Brian Barney as a riveting Hotspur (Feeble and Sir John Coleville); Kevin Sak as a hilarious, engaging Bardolph (plus a marevelously fey Archbishop of York); Julie Douglass as a most secure and droll Mistress Quickly (Wart, Rumor, and whatever is needed); Kirk Garner as a regal King Henry; and Michael Peters as an entirely comfortable Earl of Northumberland with a fabulous switching of gears for Robert Shallow and BullCalf.

That's not to say the remainder of the players are not special. They are, every one. But the play's the thing and is a wiry set of intrigues and humor that keeps the audience entranced by action that moves effortlessly between tragedy, pathos and the silliness of life without a misstep to be seen or heard. Diana Carter's costumes are attractive and easily adaptable to the myriad of characters most of the players play. As an added bonus Sasha Mereu's fight choreography is top-notch.

RLT's "Henry IV" is refreshingly old fashioned. Other than a compact script drawn from two Shakespearean dramas, there are no new insights or flashes of brilliance into deeper meanings. Just solid Shakespeare played by a troupe of old pros who do what they do for love, not money. And this time out RLT's old pros have struck Elizabethan gold.

Which should mean that the production ought to do land office box office. According to Variety its sister show, another composite "Henry IV" on Broadway, was selling tickets at 99.5% of capacity the week of December 29, 2003, through January 4, 2004.

Why not a sell out right here in the Biggest Little City? This show is worth it.

RLT's "Henry IV" can be seen at the Hug High School Little Theater, 2880 Sutro Street at McCarran Boulevard, Reno, Nevada, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. through February 1 (2004). There is commentary on the production 15 minutes before each performance. For information call 775-329-0661.