Ian McKellen is a delight in Robert Icke’s modern adaptation of Henry IV – review
Given that Sir Ian McKellen is one of the great Shakespearean actors, it’s perhaps surprising that he’s never taken on the role of Falstaff, one of Shakespeare’s best-loved anti-heroes.
Until now, that is: in Player Kings, Robert Icke’s modern-dress adaptation of Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, we see Sir Ian – in an amusingly silly fat suit – take on the comic relief role.
He’s an entertaining counterfoil to the more serious Prince Hal, played brilliantly by the excellent Toheeb Jimoh. Player Kings is two plays in one and, while some editing has taken place, it’s still a lengthy commitment – clocking in at close to four hours, this is probably not one for casual theatregoers.
It is, of course, a history play – a story like this may have limited appeal. It also struggles a little with a fundamental issue with the source material, in that Part 1 is very much more engaging than Part 2.
