King Henry the Fifth - Great River Shakespeare Festival

Once more unto the breach, dear friends

One of the things I greatly appreciate about Great River is the focus on the text rather than applying an “idea” to the play and trying to make it fit. I think theatre is most relevant when we produce the text faithfully and respond to the themes within the show. Jim’s focus during King Henry the Fifth was on the horrors of war-making and the toll it takes on all involved.

The sound design consisted of plenty of drums and brass signals, pastoral woodwinds, and black powder explosions. In addition, Jim requested that a couple pieces associated with Henry V (the “Agincourt Hymn” and “Non Nobis”) be sung live. These pieces ended up providing part of the aesthetic for the show. In addition, Jim encouraged me to view the film Danton, which uses synth and tonal elements to help communicate violence and intrigue within the setting of the French Revolution. This influence led me to develop the tonal and ambient pieces used during several key scenes.

CREDITS

King Henry V
by William Shakespeare
Great River Shakespeare Festival
Winona, MN
June 29 - August 3, 2012

Director: Jim Edmonson
Scenic Designer: R. Eric Stone
Lighting Designer:
Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz
Costume Designer: Meg Weedon
Sound Designer: Matt Tibbs

Chorus: Corey Allen
King Henry: Doug Scholz-Carlson
Duke of Exeter: Michael Fitzpatrick
Earl of Westmorland: Kyle Cotton
Archbishop of Caterbury/King of France:
Jonathan Gillard Daly
Bishop of Ely/Dauphin of France:
Brian White
Cabridge/MacMorris/Bates:
Donny Repsher
Scroop/Jamy/Williams:
John Maltese
Grey/Fluellen:
Christopher Gerson
Pistol: Chris Mixon
Nym/Rambures/Le Fer:
Peter Eli Johnson
Bardolph/Orleans:
Robert Montgomery
Boy: Jamie Dufault
Hostess/Isabel, Queen of France:
Laura Jacobs
Katherine, Princess of France:
Stephanie Lambourn
Alice, her waiting woman:
Tarah Flanagan
Constable of France:
Benjamin Boucvalt
Montjoy: Gerrad Alex Taylor