Review: Player Kings, Noel Coward Theatre - a vehicle for Ian McKellen at the expense of something richer
14/04/2024
Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre is Henry IV parts 1 & 2 squished together to create just under four hours of Shakespeare with one interval.
Ian McKellen is the big star name, playing Falstaff with Richard Coyle as Henry IV and Toheeb Jimoh as Hal.
Prince Hal's behaviour is presented as influenced by his spending so much time hanging out in taverns and with thieves, and I really liked that.
It is particularly notable in the way he fights. There is one moment when his actions towards Hotspur, whom his father admires, are certainly dirty and dishonourable. It puts both characters in a different light.
Richard Coyle, as Henry IV, has such a commanding stage presence that you could hear a pin drop every time he appeared. He presents a formidable and slightly scary King.
Robert Icke, who has adapted and directed the play, leaves little room for guilt about the means by which Henry came by the crown.
Although the fact that Henry was able to leap out of bed and wrestle with his son when he was supposedly dying did feel a little comical.
Ian McKellen is going to be my favourite Falstaff. This production felt like it was a vehicle for him to do a series of comic turns.
Some in the audience lapped it up (there was a standing ovation if that counts for anything these days), but it is at the expense of a deeper and more meaningful relationship between Falstaff and Hal.
In other productions I've seen, Falstaff is an alternative father figure. Where Henry IV is the domineering, stern parent, always disappointed and disapproving, Falstaff is like a buddy, the parent who's also a mate.
But McKellen's Falstaff is merely a freeloader. He isn't the lovable rogue. There is no apparent warmth, love or friendship between the two, and I didn't understand why Hal was hanging out with him.
As a result, when Hal rejected Falstaff, I felt quite relieved. I was glad he had metaphorically thrown him to one side. In previous productions, while Falstaff isn't the most honourable of people, that moment has felt poignant and occasionally really sad.
The lack of emotional tug was a problem and highlighted the absence of something deeper going on in these relationships.
Ultimately, it felt like a series of set pieces for McKellen to perform without properly connecting to the wider story and characters.
So I was disappointed with it. It's not my favourite production, and I'm giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Player Kings, Noel Coward Theatre
Adapted from Henry IV parts 1 and 2 and a sniff of Henry V.
Directed by Robert Icke
Starring Ian McKellen, Toheeb Jimoh and Richard Coyle.
Running time is 3 hours and 40 minutes, including an interval.
Booking until 22 June, visit the website for more details and to buy tickets
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