Ten Bucks Theatre Company plunges “once more unto the breach” with William Shakepeare’s “Henry V” for its 20th Shakespeare Under the Stars production that features some fine performances from a multi-generational cast.
There are rousing speeches, scheming politicians, bickering friends, a sword fight or two, and a love match to give the story an almost happy ending. The period costumes and the music put the audience on the battlefields and in Henry’s and his French counterpart’s court in 1415, two years after he was crowned monarch.
The show will be performed this weekend at Indian Trail Park in Brewer and next weekend at Fort Knox in Prospect.
Aimee Gerow (Chorus) expertly sets the scene and the outline of the action in the Prologue. Gerow, who gave a memorable performance in Ten Bucks’ “Merry Wives of Windsor” in 2017, brings infectious energy to this role that envelops and embraces theatergoers like a comforting shawl. The actress acts as an animated narrator of history and helps put the action into perspective for the audience.
The casting of women in men’s roles is more successful in this production than it was in Ten Buck’s “Richard III” in 2019 with Angela Bonacasa in the lead role. Natalie Lisnet (Henry), daughter of Ten Bucks founders Julie Arnold Lisnet and Ron Lisnet, has acted in the annual Shakespeare play for many years but this is the first time she’s been asked to carry a show.
She convincingly strides on and off the stage and takes command of Henry’s “band of brothers.” But Natalie Lisnet’s physicality and voice sometimes work against her. A willowing woman with a sweet soprano, she never quite captures the macho mania behind Henry’s soliloquies but she beautifully interprets Shakespeare’s language with nuance and maturity.
The characters offering comic relief from the battling French and English nearly steal the show from its warriors. Pistol (Brent Hutchins), Nym (Sam Richie), Bardolph (Jared Roxby), Fluellen (Ron Lisnet) and Mistress Quickly (Ael Fitzgerald), all theater veterans, wring all the insults, laughs and silliness from The Bard’s script. Their verbal and physical sparring is a highlight of this production.
King Henry’s right-hand man is his uncle, Duke of Exeter (Martin Guarnieri), who leads the king’s army to victory despite being outnumbered by the French. Guarnieri, a University of Maine student, physically and emotionally captures all the swagger and emotion of a loyal soldier. He gives a memorable performance in a supporting role.
Lauren Billings (Katherine) is charming in the small role of the French princess who is offered to Henry as his bride as part of the peace settlement. Billings, who was delightful earlier this year in True North Theatre’s production of William Inge’s “Picnic,” gives a fine performance despite her lines being mostly in French.
Patrick “Patty” Morris directs his first show for Ten Bucks although he starred last summer as Benedick in the company’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” Morris, who gave a layered and impressive performance last fall in UMaine’s “Rabbit Hole,” is a UMaine student majoring in military history.
He deftly handles the comic and battle scenes, keeping the action and the actors moving. But the scenes in the English and French courts look static as actors sit or stand in a straight line around their monarchs. While that may be historically accurate, it is visually boring and slows down the action.
Morris’ addition of period background music adds a great deal to the atmosphere of the show and helps keep theatergoers in the 15th century despite trucks rumbling by on North Main Street and LifeFlight arriving and departing from Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center across the Penobscot River from the park.
Over the years, Ten Bucks, like many Shakespeare companies, has produced mostly comedies — “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is slated for next summer — and tragedies — “Romeo and Juliet” was its 2022 offering. With the successful launch of “Henry V,” it might consider adding a few more histories to its list of future Shakespeare shows.
Ten Bucks Theatre Company’s production of William Shakespeare’s “Henry V” will be performed outside at 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Indian Trail Park in Brewer and Aug. 1-4 at Fort Knox in Prospect.
