The 'Brilliant Bard Channel'

When I started this 'Challenge' (which far more of a pleasure than a hardship) I was mindful that everyone was talking about Dickens while I was going on about Shakespeare. So I am very glad that everyone else has now caught up with me! Particularly the BBC. Their Cultural Olympiad inspired season 'Shakespeare Uncovered' is a marvellous companion for my Journey.

I was already dipping into the excellent back catalogue of BBC Shakespeare productions which I remember watching in the 70's-80's. But Now there is so much more on offer on both radio and TV that I can hardly keep up. Highlights in the documentary stakes have been 'Simon Shama's Shakespeare' and the titular 'Shakespeare Uncovered' programmes. It was worth watching the Joely Richardson episode alone to see the amazing shots of snow falling in the Globe Theatre. There have also been screenings of some of the better film adaptations, but best of all new re-workings by the BBC themselves.

Unfortunately I'm more than a little anal and have told myself not to watch a performance of a play until I've re-read it. Hence I missed the RSC's Julius Caesar with an African setting and Kenneth Branagh's film of 'As You Like It' as this hit the screen a little too soon. But with with the relevant Histories under my sword-belt I am revelling in the 'The Hollow Crown' series which runs through the plays 'Richard II' to 'Henry V' with a stellar cast. 

The first play, Richard II, had a phenomenal performance from Ben Whishaw in the title role and Rory Kinnear as Bolingbroke and not forgetting a stand-out 'John of Gaunt' portrayed by Sir Patrick Stewart. Now I can't wait to the watch the rest of the series and in particular to see another Shakespearean stalwart Simon Russell Beale, in the part of Falstaff, along with Tom Hiddleston playing Hal / Henry V (who as Loki stole the show in The Avengers movie). Here's just hoping the French don't have a Hulk! ("Puny Plantagenet!")


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Anthony Quayle as Sir John Falstaff by Ronald Searle

Anthony Quayle portrayed Falstaff excellently in the classic BBC adaptations of 'King Henry IV parts 1 and 2' in 1979. But regretfully did not reprise the role four years later for their version of the 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'. In fact the only actor to span the three TV plays, and indeed 'King Henry V', was Gordon Gostelow as Bardolph.

My father was always an avid reader of Punch back when I was young and I would often flick though to look at the cartoons. I can remember many such sketches by Ronald Searle of the stars from either plays or films which accompanied their review.

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Quote #008

FALSTAFF: Banish plump Jack, and banish all the world

PRINCE HENRY: I do; I will.

'King Henry IV, Part One', Act II, scene 5

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8 - King Henry IV Part One

Although I’ve read this play many times, due to the fact that I studied it at A-level, I had forgotten how particularly well written this is. From the King’s disquiet to Hotspur’s fire mixed with the comedy of Falstaff and the inevitable rise of Hal. There are too many great lines and speeches to list here; from the Prince’s reasoning for his bad behaviour to Sir John’s opinion on honour. But for all this I still can’t spot Ivy! (Maybe she shows up in part 2!)

During my college days I got to see the English Shakespeare Company’s excellent performance of this play. It was shown as part of ‘The Henrys’ at The Old Vic, where they would perform back to back Henry IV (1 & 2) and Henry V. A marathon only topped a few years later when they added another Henry to the mix and a Richard at either end to give you the full ‘War of the Roses’ (now that must have been something to watch!). 

It was the staging I remember the most and in particular the costumes which involved an excellent blending of periods from ancient to modern. It was as if a reality bomb had exploded resulting in a world where knights wore full armour, courtiers Edwardian frock coats and Falstaff a pinstripe suit and also where a berserker Scot wielding two claymores could fight side by side with soldiers in modern fatigues.

In addition to the plethora of excellent speeches and soliloquies there are also plenty of good insults thrown between Hal and Falstaff -

“...thou clay-brained guts, thou knotty-pated fool, thou whoreson obscene greasy tallow- catch”

 “...you starveling, you elf-skin, you dried neat's tongue, you bull's pizzle, you stock-fish! ... you tailor's-yard, you sheath, you bowcase; you vile standing-tuck”

But my favourite insult belongs to Hotspur on how tedious it is to talk with Glendower-

“I had rather live with cheese and garlic in a windmill, far, 
Than feed on cates and have him talk to me 
In any summer house in Christendom”

Final thoughts – Douglas is one lucky bugger! Kills everything in sight, twice ends up on the losing side and on both occasions is set free!

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