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Regional Reviews: New Jersey An Engrossing Production of Shakespeare's Rarely Performed Henry VIII Also see Bob's review of Outside Mullingar
In terms of his "private life," the play begins in 1531 with Henry's decision to divorce his loyal first wife Katherine of Aragon (the widow of his brother Arthur) out of disappointment with her failure to give birth to a son. Thereafter, Henry marries Anne Boleyn (named "Anne Bullen" in the play) and Katherine, downgraded to the title of Princess Dowager, remains under the dubious protection of the Court. The play ends in 1533 with the seemingly contented Henry embracing Anne's first child as she is baptized Elizabeth. Anne Boleyn's tragic downfall and Henry's three succeeding wives with their baleful histories are off in the future as the play ends. Of particular interest is the court intrigue of the period, particularly that of the manipulative deceitfulness of its powerful and political clergy in the waning days of Roman Catholic authority prior to Henry's break with Rome, his recognition as the supreme head of the Church of England, and the country's Protestant Reformation. David Foubert portrays Henry as a reasonable, distracted monarch forced to intervene in court affairs by the manipulate Cardinal Wolsey in whom he has misplaced authority and trust. Even as Henry discards Katherine, Foubert shows us a benign monarch galvanized by the court's conspiracy against his friend Thomas Crammer and the betrayal of Wolsey who secretly urges the Pope to secretly deny his divorce from Katherine. The villain Cardinal Wolsey, portrayed with authority and power by Philip Goodwin, is the most compelling and electric figure on stage. With his contempt for Henry bubbling just below the surface, Goodwin, obsequiously and with chilling believability, expounds on his complete and unswerving loyalty to his King. Goodwin's electric performance is the platform on which director Paul Mullins builds the production's success. Thomas Michael Hammond in the role of the loyal Duke of Buckingham (who is ordered executed by Henry on false testimony suborned by Wolsey) and Jessica Wortham as Katherine (who stands up for him) win our sympathy with their portrayals of serene, naïve, belief in Henry. Clark Scott Carmichael as Thomas Cranmer is engaging in his equally naïve (albeit rewarded) faith in Henry. In fact, the performances are strong throughout the fifteen member company. Paul Mullins has directed with a firm hand, eschewing histrionics for a clear, steady reading appropriate to a royal court full of careful, ambitious and devious conspirators. The direction and performances are abetted by a clean, symmetrical and austere black set by Charlie Calvert, and the unfussy, yet rich and handsome, period appropriate costumes by Hugh Hanson. Most felicitously, a striking, realistic, gothic style portrait of Henry VIII by court painter Hans Holbein (you will recognize it when you see it) is positioned upstage right and portraits of Katherine (act one) and Anne (act two) are upstage left (each to one side of the diamond shaped stage). Henry's painting is amidst a collage of similarly styled paintings of the royal court. There has long been considerable speculation that Henry VIII is a collaborative effort of William Shakespeare and John Fletcher based upon analysis of stylistic differences among the play's scenes. As there is no conclusive proof of this, the jury has ended up as did Anne Boleyn This Shakespeare Theatre production is compelling and felicitous, and there is no telling when this play will come our way again. Thus, I highly recommend that you take this opportunity to see their Henry VIII. Henry VIII continues performances (Eves: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays 7:30 pm; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 8 pm/ Mats: Saturdays and Sundays 2 pm) through November 9, 2014, at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, on the campus of Drew University, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940. Box Office: 973-408-5600, online: www.shakespeareNJ.org. Henry VIII by William Shakespeare; directed by Paul Mullins Cast
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