Henry V

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THE CAST:

The English
KING HENRY V — Samuel Adams+
DUKE OF EXETER, the King’s uncle — Dawn Thomas Reidy
DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, the King’s brother — Bess Kaye
DUKE OF BEDFORD, the King’s brother — Ian Charles*
HENRY IV, his father — Michael Crowley+*
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY — Jonas Connors-Grey*
BISHOP OF ELY — Morgan Pavey
EARL OF WESTMORLAND — Terrance Fleming*
EARL OF CAMBRIDGE, traitor to England — Jonas Connors-Grey*
LORD SCROOP, traitor to England — Ian Charles*
SIR THOMAS GREY, traitor to England — Ryan Tumulty
FLUELLEN, Welsh officer — Michael Crowley*+
GOWER, English officer — DeJeanette Horne
PISTOL, ensign, companion of Falstaff — Sam Richie
BARDOLPH, companion of Falstaff, now a lieutenant — Jonas Connors-Grey*
NYM, companion of Falstaff, now a corporal — Ian Charles*
NELL QUICKLY, companion of Falstaff, now married to Pistol — Teresa Spencer
FALSTAFF, knight, and companion to Harry in his youth — DeJeanette Horne
WILLIAMS, a soldier — Ian Charles*
BATES, a soldier — Ryan Tumulty
BOY, servant to Falstaff, now serving the army — Oz Heiligman

The French
KING OF FRANCE - Jonas Connors-Grey*
DAUPHIN, his son and heir - Terrance Fleming*
PRINCESS KATHERINE, his daughter - Morgan Pavey
DUKE OF ORLÉANS - Bess Kaye
DUKE OF BURGUNDY - Ryan Tumulty
LORD RAMBURES, French nobleman - DeJeanette Horne
CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, nobleman - Michael Crowley*+
MONTJOY, Herald of the French King - Ryan Tumulty
GOVERNOR OF HARFLEUR - DeJeanette Horne
FRENCH SOLDIER - Teresa Spencer
FRENCH MESSENGER - Oz Heiligman
FRENCH HERALD - Morgan Pavey
ALICE, Katherine’s attendant - Teresa Spencer

CHORUS - Lesley Malin*

THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Alec Wild** - Director
Sarah Curnoles* - Production Manager
Jesús López Vargas – Stage Manager
Seamus Miller*+ - Assistant Director
Dan O'Brien* - Set Designer
Kristina Lambdin* - Costume Coordinator
Grace Srinivasan* - Music Director
Jess Rassp* - Props Designer
Minjoo Kim - Lighting Designer
Caleb Stine - Composer
Robb Hunter** - Fight Choreographer
Abigail Funk* - Rehearsal Stage Manager
Eva Hill - Assistant Stage Manager
Dassi Cohen - Production Assistant
Hannah Brill - Wardrobe Supervisor
Kristopher Ingle - Lightboard Operator
David Crandall - Sound Engineer
Lisa Beley - Text and Vocal Coach
Mandy Benedix* - Covid Safety Officer
Ben Kenny - Backstage Crew Intern

*CSC Company Member
+ Member of Actors Equity
** Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical union

Henry V Show Synopsis

HENRY V is set in England in the years 1413-1420. The political situation in England is tense: Several bitter civil wars have left the people of England restless and dissatisfied, and to gain the respect of the English people and the court, Henry must live down his wild adolescent past.

Henry lays claim to certain parts of France, based on his distant roots in the French royal family and on a very technical interpretation of ancient land laws. When the young prince, or Dauphin, of France sends Henry an insulting message in response to these claims, Henry decides to invade France. Supported by the English noblemen and clergy, Henry gathers his troops for war.

Henry’s decision to invade France trickles down to affect the common people he rules. In the Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap, some of the king’s former friends—Pistol, Nim and Bardolph, whom he rejected when he rose to the throne—prepare to leave their homes and families. As they prepare for the war, they remark on the death of Falstaff, the elderly knight who was once King Henry’s closest friend.

The English sail for France, where they fight their way across the country. Against incredible odds, they continue to win after conquering the town of Harfleur, where Henry gives an impassioned speech to motivate his soldiers to victory. As the English advance, Nim and Bardolph are caught looting and are hanged at King Henry’s command.

The climax of the war comes at the famous Battle of Agincourt, at which the English are outnumbered by the French five to one. The night before the battle, King Henry disguises himself as a common soldier and talks to many of the soldiers in his camp, learning who they are and what they think of the great battle in which they have been swept up. When he is by himself, he laments his ever-present responsibilities as king.

The battle is fought the following morning, St. Crispin’s Day and the result is extraordinary. . .

Henry V’s Claim to the French Throne

When Charles IV, King of France, died in 1328 without an heir, the succession was thrown into the air.  The decision was made to award the kingship to Philip, a grandson of Philip III.  Edward III of England, the French King's nephew (Edward’s mother was Charles IV’s sister) and next of kin, was barred from the throne due to the Salic Law, which expressly forbade the inheritance passing through a female.  Edward took the title of King of France anyway, and used his claim as a basis for invading France, leading to the Hundred Years’ War.  His successors all used the title as well and continued the war, until Henry V, after his great victories in France, agreed to marry Charles VI’s daughter Katherine, and accepted the title of Heir to the French throne.

Click here for the Press Release

Reviews

"Riveting...Provocative...Director Alec Wild highlights the tensions between patriotism and unbridled nationalism while creating a complex portrait of [HENRY V]"
— DC Metro Theatre Arts

"Chesapeake Shakespeare Company's new production of Shakespeare's Henry V is a fine rendition...of an enthralling play that justly enjoys its popularity... fun... skillful... glorious."
— Broadway World Baltimore

“A very smart entertaining production…Alec Wild is an assured director, whose top priorities are clear storytelling and character development . . . splendid performances . . . visceral and intense."
— Judy Rousuck, WYPR

"Chesapeake Shakespeare Company does an extraordinary job of making this history engaging and exciting, captivating and complete...Alec Wild’s stunning approach [to Henry V] has audiences enthralled..."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
— Theatre Bloom

CSC is following all COVID-19 regulations and guidelines issued by both state and county officials in Maryland to ensure your visit to the Downtown Theatre is a safe and pleasant one. 

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