BAM, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and The Ohio State University present the sequel to the first of Shakespeare's four plays about the House of Lancaster. More…
War is imminent. Guilt weighs heavily on the newly crowned King Henry after offing his rival King Richard, while Prince Hal is carousing with ne’er-do-wells at the tavern. So begins 'Henry IV.' It chronicles Prince Hal’s transition from wayward son to right-hand man on the eve of an epoch-defining battle.
See it if you have hours to visit with the Bard. Lots of impressive acting. Dazzling writing. Some clever staging. What you'd expect from the RSC.
Don't see it if you like Sh well cut. Every word is performed; some sections are dull. Part 1 is vastly superior to Part 2. Both are over three hours long.
See it if You want to see the masters of Shakespearean acting perform at their best! The best Falstaff that I have ever seen!
Don't see it if You do not understand Shakespeare or are too lazy to listen to every word spoken in a play.
See it if Are an Anglophile; Love Shakespeare; Have Yet to see the Royal Shakespeare Company
Don't see it if are expecting a full-scale home production (much doubling of roles; staging to mask the traveling company size)
See it if you have even the slightest interest in shakespeare. This is a glorious, visually stunning production of a play rarely performed in full.
Don't see it if you want unserious fluff or a musical [although there is music]. Don't worry - it's extremely funny too.
See it if You are a Bard buff - this is what it's supposed to be. Not all casting is perfect but what's good is very good indeed
Don't see it if You don't like Shakespeare, long plays (3 hrs each), period pieces or historical dramas. This is heavy going if you're not up for it.
See it if you love a typically beautiful BAM Shakespeare production, plus a great Falstaff and a dashing Hal, though an unconvincing Hotspur
Don't see it if you hope for something edgy, unusual or inventive. BAM presents the usual sea of white male faces in beautiful costumes here
See it if you want to take advantage of the unique opportunity to see both parts of HENRY IV done brilliantly by the RSC. Anthony Sher is Falstaff.
Don't see it if You don't enjoy Shakespeare's history plays (?). I don't buy that reason, but someone may. In fact, I'm going again. Alex Hassell is Hal.
See it if you like Shakespeare & especially more restrained, pared down versions of his history plays
Don't see it if You're looking for fireworks and big sets & drama. Everything is well-executed & restrained, without much flash.
See it if If only for Sir Antony Sher. Wonderful, classic portrayal of Falstaff. Also for much of the cast. Very adept, appropriately moving and funny
Don't see it if You don't really understand why Falstaff is reveared or really dislike the character. Henry V has more action, Richard II has more drama.
See it if u want to see the tour-de-force that is Antony Sher's portrayal of Falstaff. Also if you love exquisitely done Shakespeare. & Alex Hassell
Don't see it if you prefer your Shakespeare set in space or in the wild west or...Also, if you dislike Shakespeare in general.
See it if you want to see a witty, humane, and fearless performance from Anthony Sher in a robust and elegant staging
Don't see it if you prefer your classics done with a little less reverence
See it if You want to see Shakespeare uncut, messy, exasperating, exhilarating, acted by a company who knows what it's doing.
Don't see it if You don't want to sit through every word of this six hour pair. A few too many battles, too much of the tavern low-life's.
See it if ... you like Shakespeare's Histories
Don't see it if you can handel on the interwoven stories and many characters
See it if you love quality, awesome performances of Shakespeare. RSC is one of the best companies in the world for good Shakespeare.
Don't see it if you don't like Shakespeare. Or you can't sit in uncomfortable seats for long periods of time.
See it if You can't get enough of Shakespeare's history plays. While you're at the Harvey be sure to enjoy the exhibits in the lobby.
Don't see it if The three hour length will dismay you.
See it if you love Shakespeare, really good acting, and cool design. And if you can accept that not every moment is brilliant.
Don't see it if you dislike Falstaff, or don't like sitting through a few boring bits in order to see some really good stuff.
See it if you are a shakespeare fan. Probably no better company to see perform these works. Want your culture credit for the year.
Don't see it if you are easily bored or don't have much time. These are long plays and by the second one you want a break.
See it if you want to understand growing up, both as an individual and as a nation. One person can change himself so much, and can change a country.
Don't see it if you don't enjoy puns. Nah, see it anyway. It's worth it.
See it if you have read the play in advance, because otherwise it is impossible to understand the actors' speeches.
Don't see it if you have not read the play
See it if You love to hear Shakespeare spoken clearly
Don't see it if Staging gimmicry drives you nuts
See it if You tours ugly respect Shakespeare and his works. This definitely does him justice.
Don't see it if Must see.
See it if you like Shakespeare's writing at it's finest- and if you enjoy Falstaff, you'll love this show, because he's hilarious.
Don't see it if Elizabethan English is incredibly confusing to you.
Also Whenever I watch Shakespeare without having read the play first I tend... Read more Read less