REVIEW: King Henry IV, Part One: The Table Steals the Show

The cast of King Henry IV Part One have been hard at work in the Little Center for the past few months putting together their production of one of Shakespeare's most famous historical plays. On opening night the amazing collection of actors put on a fantastic show, but the performance of one inanimate member of the company stood out from the rest: the Table.

Don't let the title fool you, The Table is the true star of Henry IV. It's presence can be felt even in scenes where it has no lines. It is a key player in the famous Boar's Head Tavern sequence in which Prince Hal (Liat Graf '18) and Falstaff (Annie Share '18) go toe to toe in a battle of insults, in an attempt to outsmart the other. While the focus may be on these two extraordinary women and Shakespeare's rich, phenomenal language, the scene would fall apart without the support of The Table. It's comedic timing throughout this drunken revelry is just hilarious.

The Table also gives another extraordinary, but silent performance, during a scene where Hotspur (Amelia Mohr '17) argues with her wife Lady Percy (Fiona Barnett-Mulligan '19) against the backdrop of a beautiful musical performance by Jacqui Savageau ('18) and Jake Rosenthal ('20). The song is lovely and the married couple expertly grapple with the reality of love during times of war, but it is The Table that truly steals the scene. The way it just stands there being covered first by maps and documents, and eventually by a blanket, is simply breathtaking.

Starring The Table and a fantastic supporting cast of two ladders, a few chairs, a couple trunks, and some rope -- King Henry IV is definitely a show you do not want to miss.

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The play is produced by the Visual and Performing Arts Department, directed by Stephen Thorne. The show runs March 21 to March 26. Tuesday-Saturday performances at 7:30, Sunday performance at 2:00. All performances located in the Michelson Theater in the Little Center.

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