American Players Theatre Henry IV: The Making of a King

HOT SHEET Our story begins... A Note to Readers: Having deposed his predecessor, Richard II, Henry Bolingbroke, now Henry IV, is Welcome to American Players striving to consolidate his authority over a divided and rebellious kingdom. Henry IV: The Making of a King Welsh rebels under Owen Glendower have captured Edmund Mortimer, a mem- Hot Sheet. The Hot Sheet is designed ber of the powerful Percy family. When Henry refuses to ransom Mortimer, the for students, educators and patrons Percys are outraged. Refusing to turn their prisoners over to Henry, they then who would like to know more about an join other discontents, including Glendower, to lead a rebellion against the new APT production but have little time to king. prepare beforehand. The Hot Sheet is In the meantime neither a scholarly paper nor a Cliff Henry’s estranged son, Prince Notes version of the play. Rather, it is Hal, keeps the company of an easy guide to the story, themes and scoundrels. He spends his time characters of the 2008 APT produc- drinking and committing the tion. See you up the hill! occasional robbery with his friend, the notorious Sir John Falstaff. But Hal is soon in- formed of the revolt and called to duty. The Prince and King reconcile and head to Shrews- Matt Schwader as Prince Hal bury to fight the rebels.

The rebels, hugely outnumbered, have been driven to fight by the pas- sion of Henry Percy (Hotspur). In the climactic fight, Prince Hal mortally wounds Hotspur. The King then orders Worcester (Hotspur's uncle) executed, and that part of the rebellion is defused. Northumberland, Hotspur's father, sets out anew to take revenge against Henry.

Unaware of the threat, Hal and company are back to carousing at the Boar’s Head tavern, but are soon summoned to duty by the king, who has become Brian Mani as Sir John Falstaff ill. Believing his father is dead, Hal takes the crown while he’s sleeping, prompt- ing Henry to believe the worst of him. Hal returns, though, and the two reconcile CONTENTS again. King Henry gives Hal his blessing, and dies soon after. Hal’s first order of business as King is to banish his old friends on pain of death. By doing so, Hal

accepts his responsibility and ascends to the throne. Story page 1 Themes page 2 Characters page 2 Photos page 3 Sponsors page 4 the Douglas the Douglas & Michael Huftile as as Huftile Michael & James Ridge as Henry IV IV Henry as Ridge James

1 Themes

Honor-It torments the guilt-ridden soul of a disputed king. It is the object of Hotspur’s obsession. Falstaff claims it is worthless as air. Prince Harry conceals his until the time is right. Despite diverse viewpoints, the concept of honor permeates the entire play.

Appearance vs. Reality-Prince Harry claims to imitate the sun and “smother up his beauty from the world” and promises “to make offense a skill, Redeeming time when men think least I will.” A common motif in many of Shakespeare’s plays, Henry IV is rife with characters and events that are not what they initially appear to be.

Fathers and Sons-Are kings born or made? Henry IV wishes his son had been switched with Hotspur at birth, yet later Prince Harry saves his father’s hide. Hotspur’s father kindles his son’s rebellious ambitions, but fails to show up when it matters most. In a peculiar way, Falstaff serves as a kind of surrogate parent for Hal. As is the case with Shakespeare’s other great dramas, the relationship between parents and their children is crucial in Henry IV.

Nobility vs. Commoners-One of the most compelling aspects of Henry IV is its juxtaposition of the lives of aristocratic political leaders with those of common, drunken thieves. Yet this history gives audiences a unique opportunity to explore the shared experiences—like the call to war and the departure from a beloved significant other—that bind the classes together.

Public vs. Private Life-Imagine listening to the Watergate tapes, Kennedy’s deliberations during the Cuban missile crisis, or the conversation between the president and his advisors following the attacks of September 11. Shakespeare’s histories give audiences the rare opportunity to “look behind the curtain” and be privy to the undisclosed thoughts and struggles of a nation’s leaders while comparing them to other high-profile public moments. Henry IV demonstrates the curious nature of leadership that depends on who Cast of Characters The King’s Party Rebels Against the King

King Henry IV, Henry Bolingbroke: Troubled by his conscience over Earl of Northumberland: Father to Hotspur. He conspires with his deposing Richard II and the dissolute reputation of his eldest son, Hal, son Hotspur and his brother Worchester to rebel against the king. he rules uneasily over England. Henry Percy, Hotspur: Joins the rebellion against Henry IV when he is Prince Hal, Henry, Harry: The central character of the play; Henry IV’s forbidden to ransom his brother-in-law, Edmund Mortimer. Volatile eldest son and heir to the throne; after enjoying the company of a band and impatient, he is driven by an overpowering sense of pride and of drunken, thieving miscreants, Hal will soon reveal his true nobility. chivalric honor.

Earl of Westmoreland, the king’s cousin: A nobleman and military leader; one of the king’s closest and most valuable allies. Earl of Worchester: With his brother, the Earl of Northumberland, he rebels against Henry IV. Worcester serves as Hotspur’s advisor Sir Walter Blunt: A lord with unwavering loyalty to the king. throughout the rebellion.

The Lord Chief Justice: The king’s authority on the street. He Sir Edmund Mortimer: Named as the official heir to the throne by represents police, judge and jury in all town matters. Legend has it Richard II, Edmund Mortimer is captured by his enemy Glendower. (incorrectly) that Prince Hal struck him. Shortly after, he marries Glendower’s daughter to create an alliance.

Tavern Folk Earl of Douglas: Guardian of Scotland and a rebel against Henry IV, Douglas was at first Hotspur’s opponent. Douglas and Hotspur join Sir John Falstaff: Falstaff is the witty leader of a gang of thieves and forces against the king’s army. close friends with Prince Hal. He is a gluttonous braggart and over-the- hill drunken reprobate who serves as his quick witted mentor. Owen Glendower: Father to Lady Mortimer and a potent figurehead Ned Poins, Bardolph and Peto: A group of criminal barflies who, along of Welsh nationalism. Glendower is a constant thorn in Henry IV’s with Prince Harry and Falstaff, frequent the Boar’s Head Tavern. side. He will eventually join with his son-in-law Edmund Mortimer and Hotspur in battling the king. Mistress Quickly: Hostess of the tavern.

Doll Tearsheet: A workingwoman of ill repute and mistress of Falstaff. Kate, Lady Percy: Wife to Hotspur and sister to Edmund Mortimer, she is an emotional balance and physical match for Hotspur.

Lady Mortimer: The daughter of Glendower and wife to Edmund Mortimer. In the APT production, she has no scripted lines, but shares a transposed scene spoken in Welsh with her father Glendower.

2 2008 Production Photos

David Daniel as Hotspur and Carrie Coon as Kate

Paul Bentzen as Bardolph

James Ridge as King Henry IV

Matt Schwader as Prince Hal

Brian Mani as Sir John Falstaff

Tracy Arnold as Mistress Quickly Darragh Kennan as Blunt and Michael Huftile as the Douglas Production photos by Carissa & Dixon Zane Williams

3 MANY THANKS! APT would like to thank the following for making our program possible: Alliant Energy Foundation, Inc. • Chuck & Ronnie Jones APT Children’s Fund at the Madison Community Foundation • Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission with additional funds from the American Girl’s Fund for Children, the Evjue Foundation & the Overture Foundation • IKI Manufacturing, Inc. • Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company • Sauk County Arts, Humanities Historic Preservation Committee • The Evjue Foundation, Inc., the Charitable Arm of the Capital Times

AND OUR MAJOR EDUCATION SPONSORS

The Alexander Charitable Foundation – Leslie and Patrick Arendt

This project was also supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin.

American Players Theatre’s production is part of Shakespeare in American Communities: Shakespeare for a New Generation, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest.

Contributions as of July 25, 2008

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