Truly Inspiring

Guys! Henry IV pt 1! I'm seeing it! And it's only 10 minutes away from my apartment!

 After my drag-tastic afternoon, I peaced out back to Brooklyn, slightly tipsier than intended, to get to BAM for Henry IV, pt 1! I was totally good on time, and actually got there early enough to check out the lobby displays (original folio! Pics from the original RSC productions in 2013!) and sober up before the house opened and I found my (very expensive) seat for the show.

The show was stupendous overall and Antony Sher's Falstaff  was such a high point. His character was equal parts tragic and hilarious and completely over-the-top as every good Falstaff should be. A rogue and a charmer whose bravado and charisma are the only things keeping him from being thrown in jail or killed in the street. Plus, his famous 'honor' speech before the battle of Shrewsbury was the best I've ever seen it. I understood every line and his use of audience participation (when he asked the first few questions, he waited for someone to say "No") was perfect. I honestly cannot wait to see the second installment this coming Saturday.

I realized that I've only ever seen the Henries as a seriously cut down combined version when Seattle Shakes did it... I dunno, five or six years ago. It was still pretty long, 3.5 or 4 hours total, I believe, but they did both part 1 & part 2 in one night as one complete performance. So, there were lots of new bits that I'd never seen before, or that I'd forgotten, it has been a few years. But considering that this was only part 1 and it was a little over 3 hours long, and part 2 is about the same length? There's a LOT of material that Shakes must have cut to make the Henries into one night of theater. Yay! New to me!

Ugh. I love reading and I love being inspired to do what I love. This book is a two-fer!

I also began reading Sher's book about becoming Falstaff last weekend. It was delivered on Saturday, so I got to start my lazy Easter Sunday off right with this lovely gem. I am both trying to savor the book (I only read the first chapter on Sunday, and am now only reading it while I'm on the subway or on my lunch breaks), and also trying to finish it before I see the second half of the show on Saturday. It's an interesting challenge. I am already half-way through the book and I'm obsessed. I have a ridiculous amount of passages underlined and just as many notes scribbled in the margins. I know it is going to make part 2 even MORE enjoyable than part 1! So many glimpses behind the scenes! YEEEEES! I'm a fan of any book that makes me belly laughs on the subway (and even shed some tears).