I got an ATG+ discount for opening night, but the prices for this production were higher than most, so for the normal price of a dress circle seat, I was near the front of the upper circle.
I was pleased that I had watched the BBCs Hollow Crown of Richard II and both parts of Henry IV in the weeks before this as the story is very complicated. I also managed to get some of the jokes.
They wore modern costumes and had modern props, which seemed a bit odd for a “history” play, particularly when they don’t seem to modernise the language.
I liked the way they changed scenes by walking a curtain across, and while it was being walked across, they changed performers and the limited props.
However, they also had a black screen/curtain that regularly came between half and three quarters way down the height of the stage which blocked all but the very front of the stage to those in the upper circle and some scenes were completely blocked by it – although the restricted view was not mentioned beforehand.
They also just came out on stage and started speaking at the start and after the interval without warning and while the house lights were all still on, meaning quite a few people had to suddenly rush to their seats and clamour over people trying to watch.
Overall, despite the abridged script, and staging issues I enjoyed the fact that I got to see Sir Ian McKellen perform in a Shakespeare play in a role that has comedic elements without having to go into central London, and I now know that I could probably cope watching other “history plays” and/or VERY long plays (but I was pleased I was aware of the general story beforehand).
7/10
