|
Regional Reviews: Phoenix Henry V Also see Gil's reviews of How to Defend Yourself and Jitney
The plot follows the young King Henry as he seeks to unify England and assert his claim to the French throne. After discovering a perceived insult from the French Dauphin, Henry launches a military campaign that culminates in the famous Battle of Agincourt. Along the way, he wrestles with the burdens of leadership, questions of honor, and the responsibility he bears for the lives of his soldiers. This production is Southwest Shakespeare's touring show that also plays at schools, and its eighty-minute runtime, designed to accommodate younger audiences, significantly compresses the plot. While this abridgement makes the play more accessible in terms of length, it also strips away much of the nuance that defines Shakespeare's storytelling. With a cast of five playing multiple roles, it also means that character motivations sometimes feel rushed or insufficiently developed, and key emotional turns occur so quickly that they risk confusing viewers unfamiliar with the original text. Also, the decision to set the play during the Vietnam War adds another layer that doesn't quite work. While this setting and time period change does tie into the play's intriguing themes of the varying layers of military leadership and the cost of war, the updated setting occasionally muddies the narrative, especially when much of the dialogue and action remains rooted in medieval England. That said, the five-member cast is impressive. Joshua Murphy makes a commanding Henry, while the remaining performers, Amanda Noel Trombley, Ashleigh Brown, Owen Rapkoch, and Beau Heckman, take on multiple roles, often switching characters with only subtle physical and vocal adjustments and just an addition of a costume piece. Their accent work is strong overall, and the fight choreography is executed with precision and intensity. Under Breona Conrad's firm direction, the actors maintain a brisk pace and clear storytelling. Still, there are moments when the use of traditional British and French accents seems at odds with the Vietnam era setting, especially when American southern accents are also present, creating an inconsistency between Shakespeare's text and this production's setting and time period. Fortunately, as an introduction to Shakespeare's language and dramatic structure, this production still has value. The performers' dedication and skill help make the text accessible and the action always engaging. However, while it succeeds in showcasing the power of Shakespeare's words, the heavy abridgement and conceptual changes may also leave some audiences with an incomplete or confusing impression of the play. Henry V runs through February 21, 2026, at Southwest Shakespeare Company, Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St, Mesa AZ. For tickets and information, please visit swshakespeare.org or call 480-644-6500 Director: Breona Conrad Cast: |
