'Henry V' is not one of my favourites of Shakespeare's plays, though am not sure whether it would be counted as a lesser play in my book because it does have a lot of powerful text (the Crispin's Day speech being one of the bard's finest) and an interesting titular character. Do consider it one of his better historical plays along with 'Richard III'. Just for the record, really love Shakespeare and have done since studying 'Macbeth' and 'Twelfth Night', two of my favourites of his, in Year 6.
Season 1, aka The Henriad tetralogy, of 'The Hollow Crown' (made up of 'Richard II', both parts of 'Henry IV' and 'Henry V'), is a great way to make these historical plays better known and more accessible. Though 'Richard II' superb and loved both parts of 'Henry IV' just as much and equally (with Part 2 getting the marginal superior edge) so of course there were high hopes for this. 'The Hollow Crown's' version of 'Henry V' is very well done with many fantastic merits, but a slight disappointment compared to what became before. Of previous adaptations of the play, do personally prefer the Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh films but still consider it better than the still interesting BBC Television Shakespeare production.
Will start with the fantastic things. The production values were fine and at their best lavish, with a lot of homework and care put clearly into the costumes and settings, with lots of evocative detail. The never too flashy and sometimes intimate photography is equally striking, not quite as cinematic as the previous 'The Hollow Crown' productions but one still cannot believe that it is not a film instead of being made for an exceptionally high quality mini-series of the historical Shakespeare plays.
Although not perfect, the staging is still cohesive and absorbing with some imaginative touches, such as the prologue. It is never static, the muted tone does indeed work and is opened up enough generally, while not feeling cluttered and never does it become tasteless or include touches that are there for no reason and just distract. The humour, authority and emotion are generally there and in the right places. Shakespeare's writing shines through with wit, intelligence and emotion, and mostly it is delivered very well.
The performances are all strong. Paul Ritter enjoys himself thoroughly as Pistol and Melanie Thierry is a touching Katherine. Geraldine Chaplin couldn't have been more perfection as Alice and Anton Lesser seldom disappoints. Do prefer Tom Hiddeleston as younger Prince Hal, which had a little more vitality, but he is still charismatic and authoritative and the dignity and poignancy of Henry is brought out very well.
For all those fantastic things, there are a couple of disappointments that bring down what could have been a fantastic production. Am going to have to be another person who didn't find the St Crispin's Day speech anywhere near powerful enough. That speech should rouse seeing as it is one of Shakespeare's most powerful passages, but here it was bland and staged too intimately.
What also should have roused were the battle scenes. Found them instead anaemic and under-populated. Just to make things clear, am somebody that doesn't object to change so long as there's reason for it and don't happen suddenly (which can disconcert me) but this is just personal taste.
Summarising, very good. 8/10
Season 1, aka The Henriad tetralogy, of 'The Hollow Crown' (made up of 'Richard II', both parts of 'Henry IV' and 'Henry V'), is a great way to make these historical plays better known and more accessible. Though 'Richard II' superb and loved both parts of 'Henry IV' just as much and equally (with Part 2 getting the marginal superior edge) so of course there were high hopes for this. 'The Hollow Crown's' version of 'Henry V' is very well done with many fantastic merits, but a slight disappointment compared to what became before. Of previous adaptations of the play, do personally prefer the Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh films but still consider it better than the still interesting BBC Television Shakespeare production.
Will start with the fantastic things. The production values were fine and at their best lavish, with a lot of homework and care put clearly into the costumes and settings, with lots of evocative detail. The never too flashy and sometimes intimate photography is equally striking, not quite as cinematic as the previous 'The Hollow Crown' productions but one still cannot believe that it is not a film instead of being made for an exceptionally high quality mini-series of the historical Shakespeare plays.
Although not perfect, the staging is still cohesive and absorbing with some imaginative touches, such as the prologue. It is never static, the muted tone does indeed work and is opened up enough generally, while not feeling cluttered and never does it become tasteless or include touches that are there for no reason and just distract. The humour, authority and emotion are generally there and in the right places. Shakespeare's writing shines through with wit, intelligence and emotion, and mostly it is delivered very well.
The performances are all strong. Paul Ritter enjoys himself thoroughly as Pistol and Melanie Thierry is a touching Katherine. Geraldine Chaplin couldn't have been more perfection as Alice and Anton Lesser seldom disappoints. Do prefer Tom Hiddeleston as younger Prince Hal, which had a little more vitality, but he is still charismatic and authoritative and the dignity and poignancy of Henry is brought out very well.
For all those fantastic things, there are a couple of disappointments that bring down what could have been a fantastic production. Am going to have to be another person who didn't find the St Crispin's Day speech anywhere near powerful enough. That speech should rouse seeing as it is one of Shakespeare's most powerful passages, but here it was bland and staged too intimately.
What also should have roused were the battle scenes. Found them instead anaemic and under-populated. Just to make things clear, am somebody that doesn't object to change so long as there's reason for it and don't happen suddenly (which can disconcert me) but this is just personal taste.
Summarising, very good. 8/10