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.
KNAVES (photos byGeoffrey Wade Photography): Stephen Caffrey and Michael Kirby
Mitchell Edmonds, Joe Holt, Bo Foxworth
Sally Hughes, Joe Holt
Jeff Torres and Danielle Thorpe
Joe Holt (Jesse Gavin in background)
Michael Kirby, Joel Swetow, Mark Bramhall
ROGUES (photos by Karianne Flaathen): Ramon De Ocampo and James Sutorius
Gregory Itzin and Ramón de Ocampo
Desiree Mee Jung and Daniel Bess
Daniel Bess (Jason Turner in the background)
Videos