Shakespeare's Globe: Henry IV, Part 1

This review is only for part I.

I don't understand what exactly Roger Allam did with Falstaff in this production, but this is the best Falstaff I have ever seen. The Globe audience absolutely loved him, and I did too even though in other productions I've thought him a bit tiresome. They say the soul of comedy is timing, and maybe that's it (I'm thinking of his revival from the dead). But regardless, it's easy to see why Allam won a prize for it.

But the other actors were all excellent as well: Hal was as charismatic as I've ever seen him, and the king, although too hefty IMO, was kingly. I did have trouble accepting a blond Hotspur, and by the end I thought he was getting positively psychopathic, but his acting left nothing to be desired. So far every production I've seen by Dominic Dromgoole has been excellent.

This production had atmospheric videos projected on a rear curtain which worked very well. Recommended for anyone.