A Great Scot
Tuesday, April 15th by scott malia
When you think about Henry V, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Do you imagine a strung out drug addict? Could you picture the famous Agincourt speech delivered by a working class male stripper? What if Hal were a zombie killer or the lover of a closeted priest? Could see cannibalism working in a production of arguably the favorite of Shakespeare’s History plays? Could you imagine a Henry V impervious to pain fighting none other than Her Majesty’s most famous, martini-loving superspy? If none of these descriptions fits your vision of the character, then you may need to rethink that vision.
The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) in Glasgow recently announced a festival of Shakespearean-themed performance and music entitled “Raising the Bard.” The centerpiece of this event is a performance of Henry V starring Robert Carlyle in the title role. Carlyle is arguably one of Scotland’s busiest actors and has played all of the roles mentioned above and many more. If you don’t recognize him by his name, you would certainly recognize his face. The fact that Carlyle falls a bit under the radar is a testament to how well he disappears into each of his roles, whether they are in blockbusters or independent European films. Carlyle will undoubtedly bring an edge to Henry and a decidedly contemporary feel. This brilliant character actor is more than up to the challenge of one of The Bard’s more demanding kings. Also, after acting opposite Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist, Agincourt will be a piece of cake.
