Henry IV, Parts I and II

It's Shakespeare season again in St. Louis, and this year we get to see three plays rather than the usual one.  For whatever reason, the company decided to put on both Henry IV (Part I and Part II, condensed into one show) and Henry V, and there are a few days that they did a double-header of IV/V together.  Think how hot that must be in the 4:30 sun!

Not that sitting through six straight hours of British history wouldn't be wonderful, but I decided to see the plays on two days.  And not to take my history out of order, I went to IV first.

As with all of Shakespeare's work (even the comedies), there's drama.  Henry IV has just become king by deposing Richard II.  He's now trying to quiet those pesky Welshmen and Scotsmen, who just will not settle down.  The appropriately-nicknamed Hotspur is the source of much trouble, as he just will not do what the king says, and kings don't like that.  Prince Hal (whom we will meet again as the next monarch in Henry V) is more or less good for nothing until the real fighting begins.  Apparently swords can make men out of boys, because when the going gets tough, he finally gets his act together.  (And I mean actual swords and fighting and death, that's not a euphemism.)

And it's a good thing he does, because Papa Henry IV falls ill and dies at the conclusion of the fighting, leaving Henry V to take on the French, if Prince John is to be believed.