Time Out London, 15 May 2002
'Henry V'
Shaw Theatre Fringe
Three bodies slump in a heap, centre-stage, one piled on top of the other. Standing over them is their pistol-wielding, beret-wearing assassin King Henry V. This pared-down production muddies the myth of a lauded monarch and reveals the complex man behind the crown.
Tom Mallaburn's Henry is a convincing mix, beneath the preppiness, of authoritarian fascist and regal, charismatic leader. He deals with treachery with chilling efficiency, and with the same zero tolerance he flouts conventions of war, commanding his men to slit every POW's throat. Mallaburn channels emotion into Henry's rhetorical orations there's a memorable, rousing St. Chrispin's day speech, delivered to the audience as if they are his 'band of brothers'.
He is well-served by Tom Walwyn's narcisstic Dauphin - a camp joker played shamelessly for laughs, and Mike Roger's excellent Chorus ensures the audience are scooped up in a cradle of story telling and theatricality.
In Miles Gregory's minimalist production Christianity is self-serving and national pride is imbued with the tawdry patiotism of Union Jack coronets - the Dauphin is mockingly crowned with one at Agincourt as the English display the drunken revelry of victorious football supporters. Gregory's direction is radical without being too pretentious - save for a closing image of the cast adopting sullen casual poses in a CK-style line up. This is low-budget Shakespeare, high on verve and brio.
Sarah Wilcocks
