Reno Little Theater in partnership with

Hug High School presents

Henry IV by William Shakespeare

adapted by Kirk Gardner and Michael Peters directed by Michael Peters

January 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31 at 8:00 pm January 18, 25, and February 1 at 2:00 pm

2004 (A brief introduction to the play and its background

will be given one half hour before each performance.)

Henry IV adapted from the

Tragedy of Richard the Second and the

First and Second Parts of Henry the Fourth

Part I Scene 1 The palace in London.

Scene 2 Prince Henry’s house in London.

Scene 3 The palace in London.

Scene 4 The highway near Gadshill.

Scene 5 The stronghold of the Percys in Northumberland.

Scene 6 The Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap.

Scene 7 Glendower’s castle in Wales.

Scene 8 The palace in London.

Scene 9 The rebel camp near Shrewsbury.

Scene 10 A public road near Coventry.

Scene 11 The King’s camp near Shrewsbury.

Scene 12 A plain near the rebel camp.

Scene 13 The battle of Shrewsbury.

Intermission

Part II Scene 1 The English countryside.

Scene 2 Before Northumberland’s castle.

Scene 3 A street in London.

Scene 4 The Archbishop’s palace in York.

Scene 5 Prince Henry’s house in London.

Scene 6 Northumberland’s castle.

Scene 7 The Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap.

Scene 8 The palace at Westminster.

Scene 9 Before Justice Shallow’s house in Gloucestershire.

Scene 10 Before the forest of Gaultree in Yorkshire.

Scene 11 The battle of Gaultree.

Scene 12 The Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster.

Scene 13 Justice Shallow’s house in Gloucestershire.

Scene 14 The palace at Westminster.

Scene 15 Justice Shallow’s house in Gloucestershire.

Scene 16 A street in London.

Scene 17 Near Westminster Abbey. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY THEATRE

King Henry the Fourth -------------------------------------------- Kirk Gardner Formerly Henry Bullingbrook

Sir Pierce of Exton -------------------------------------------------- Patrick Crabb A knight in Henry IV’s party

Earl of Westmerland ------------------------------------------------- Paul Dancer Advisor to Henry IV

Sir John Falstaff -------------------------------------------------------- Leo McBride A knight

Prince of Wales -------------------------------------------------------- Joshua Jessup Henry Monmouth, son to Henry IV, known as Hal

Edward Poins -------------------------------------------------------- Dominic Lopez Gentleman in waiting to Prince of Wales

Earl of Worcester --------------------------------------------------------- Brian Bass Thomas Percy

Earl of Northumberland --------------------------------------- Michael Peters Henry Percy, brother to Worchester

Hotspur -------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Barney Henry Percy, son to Northumberland

Bardolph ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kevin Sak Irregular humorist

Peto ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amber Myrick Irregular humorist

1st Traveler ---------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Dancer

2nd Traveler ------------------------------------------------------------- Derek Evans

Lady Percy --------------------------------------------------------------- Nicole Bracco Wife to Hotspur and sister to Mortimer

Mistress Quickly ----------------------------------------------------- Julie Douglass Hostess of the Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap

Sheriff --------------------------------------------------------------------- Patrick Crabb

Edmund Mortimer ------------------------------------------------ Dominic Lopez Earl of March

Owen Glendower ------------------------------------------------------- Paul Dancer Father-in-law to Mortimer

Messenger --------------------------------------------------------------- Julie Douglass

Dramatis Personae

Sir Richard Vernon ------------------------------------------------- Derek Evans A knight in Hotspur’s party

Rumor -------------------------------------------------------------------- Julie Douglass

Lord Mowbray ------------------------------------------------------ Patrick Crabb Opposite against Henry IV

Lord Hastings ---------------------------------------------------------- Derek Evans Opposite against Henry IV

Travers ----------------------------------------------------------------- Amber Myrick Retainer of Northumberland

Falstaff’s Page ------------------------------------------------------- Nicole Bracco

Lord Chief Justice ------------------------------------------------------ Brian Bass

The Archbishop of York ---------------------------------------------- Kevin Sak Richard Scroop

Doll Tearsheet ------------------------------------------------------ Amber Myrick

Earl of Warwick ---------------------------------------------------- Patrick Crabb Advisor to Henry IV

Robert Shallow ---------------------------------------------------- Michael Peters A country justice

Mouldy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brian Bass A country soldier

Wart ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Julie Douglass A country soldier

Feeble ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dominic Lopez A country soldier

Bullcalf ------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Barney A country soldier Prince John of Lancaster ------------------------------------ Dominic Lopez Younger son to Henry IV

Sir John Coleville -------------------------------------------------- Brian Barney A knight against Henry IV

Thomas, Duke of Clarence ------------------------------------ Nicole Bracco Youngest son to Henry IV

Davy ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Barney Servant to Shallow

(in order of appearance)

UNR’s Nevada Repertory Company presents

Just So directed and choreographed by Richard Jessup

February 27, 28, March 3, 4, 5, 6 at

7:30 p.m.

March 6, 7 at 1:30 p.m.

Behind the Scenes Director ------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Peters Assistant Director ------------------------------------------------- Kirk Gardner Technical Director ------------------------------------------------ Sam Coleman Fight Choreography ----------------------------------------------- Sasha Mereu Stage Manager, Introduction ----------------------------------------Jo Schrock Stage Crew ------------------------------------------Fredy Trujillo, Ryan Tune Set Construction ------------------------------------------------------------------- cast Costume Design ------------------------------------------------------ Diana Carter Costumes ------------------Nicole Bracco, Diana Carter, Julie Douglass Tamela and Dino Germano, Liz Gray

Special Thanks to Debbie Feemster, Principal; Jim Studer, Vice Principal; and Keith Roberts, Theater Director, all with Hug High School, for their support of this performance.

Brüka Theatre, Nevada Performing Arts, and J.R. Beardsley, Swordmaster Extraordinaire.

Reno Little Theater is supported, in part, by a grant from Sierra Pacific.

Biographies Cast

Brian Barney (Hotspur, Bullcalf, Colevile, Davy) made his Reno acting debut in the fall of 2000, playing Detective Sergeant Trotter in Mousetrap for Reno Little Theater. After performing in ten plays between 2001 and 2002, mostly for Nevada Repertory Company, Brian has balanced his time with just two plays this year, including Reno Little Theater's Deathtrap. In addition to acting and working full time as a software developer, Brian has written, and is currently directing, a local independent movie.

Brian Bass (Worcester, Chief Justice, Mouldy) is performing in his sixth Reno Little Theater production. His most recent plays include last season’s Twelve Angry Men and the previous season’s Crossing Delancy. He performs off-stage as an environmental engineer in Reno, and enjoys howling under a full moon with his wife Kimberly.

Nicole Bracco (Lady Percy, Page, Clarence) started with Reno Little Theater as one of Macbeth’s witches in the Halloween production at the Silver Terrace Cemetery. Nicole has also played Helena Glory in Rossum’s Universal Replicants, Claire in Rumors, and Millie in Hotel Suite at the Hug Little Theatre. When she is not treading the boards, Nicole works with handicapped kids at a local school. She is also taking classes at TMCC.

Patrick Crabb (Exton, Sheriff, Mowbray, Warwick) is a nine-year Reno resident. In college, he played the Prince of Morocco in Merchant of Venice and Mr. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol. Patrick started with Reno Little Theater last year as Juror Number 7 in Twelve Angry Men and played Tristram Watson in Taking Steps, for which he won a Blythe Award for Best Supporting Actor. This season, he played Roy in The Odd Couple. He has enjoyed his involvement with Reno Little Theater.

Paul Dancer (Westmerland, 1st Traveler, Glendower) is a graduate of the California Institute of the Arts. He has acted in movies, including Armed And Dangerous, Raging Bull, and The Boys Next Door, has done stand-up comedy, and has had many local TV and radio shows around the country. Last year, he played Tom in Reno Little Theater’s Golden Age and Hal in Proof. This season, he played Speed in The Odd Couple. He is currently a member of The Tahoe Improv Players.

Julie Douglass (Hostess, Messenger, Rumor, Wart) is pleased to be doing Shakespeare again after a gap of more years than she would like to admit. She dedicates her performance to the memory of Dr. David Hettich, who directed her in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is also pleased to be working again with her husband, Kirk Gardner, so she can see him once in a while!

Derek Evans (2nd Traveler, Vernon, Hastings) is a graduate of the University of Washington, where he studied voice, movement, and acting. He has appeared in commercials and participated in productions with the New York Shakespeare Festival. He recently appeared as a contestant on KOLO’s The Bachelor. He was a crew member for Deathtrap. Derek is making his acting debut with the Reno Little Theater with Henry IV. By day, Derek is a communications specialist and fitness enthusiast.

Kirk Gardner (King Henry IV, also Assistant Director), when not acting, scriptwriting, or directing, is a CPA with Kafoury, Armstrong. Most recently seen as Cornelius in WNMTC’s production of Hello Dolly, he also appeared in Twelve Angry Men, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Thurber Carnival, ...a little Christmas, Assassins, Greetings, Love Letters, and many others. It’s good to be the King!

Joshua Jessup (Prince Hal) lived in Los Angeles for five years, where his roles included Harold Hill in The Music Man, Jesus in Godspell, Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie, Dvornichek in Rough Crossing, Jess in Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr Abridged, Aegeon in Comedy of Errors, and Jaques in As You Like It. Back in Nevada, his home state, Joshua has played Will in Oklahoma, Bob Cratchett in Scrooge, Tony in West Side Story, and Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Dominic Lopez (Poins, Mortimer, Feeble, Prince John) is a full-time UNR student and works full time. Still, he finds time to act in as many plays as possible. He has performed with the Nevada Repertory Company and the Riverfront Theater, in Merry Wives of Windsor, Sugar Babies, Jeffrey, and others. This is Dominic’s first Reno Little Theater play, and he looks forward to more.

Leo McBride (Falstaff) appeared for Reno Little Theater in Who's On First and All My Sons, for which he received a Blythe Award for Best Lead Actor. He teaches drama and is Fine Arts Department Leader at McQueen High School. He holds a Master's Degree in Theater Directing and is National Board Certified in Language Arts. He was KRNV's Teacher of the Month last February and, in September, was named Teacher of the Year. He owes it all to his spouse, Nancy, and his babies Chi Chi and Squeaky.

Amber Myrick (Peto, Travers, Doll) has worked with Reno Little Theater both on stage and off. She played Bertha in Curse You, Jack Dalton and, last season, played the guard in Twelve Angry Men. She has done technical work in many plays, most recently as Stage Manager of Deathtrap. She loves the challenge of Shakespeare and looks forward to acting in future Reno Little Theater productions.

Kevin Sak (Bardolph, Archbishop) returns to the stage with Reno Little Theater after a year’s hiatus. Kevin last performed in Nevada Opera’s production of Die Fledermaus. “I played the drunken jailer, Frosch. I stumbled around yelling a lot at everybody.” Kevin won’t yell at anyone during this performance of Henry IV, but he’ll speak loudly. “After all, we aren’t using microphones.”

Michael Peters (also playing Shallow and Northumberland), in his ninth season with Reno Little Theater, made his directorial debut with 2002's The Importance of Being Earnest. Already this season, he has directed The Odd Couple and acted in Deathtrap. A four-time Blythe Award recipient, he has appeared in over twenty-five productions with such Reno community theater mainstays, in addition to Reno Little Theater, as Nevada Repertory Company, Gothic North Theater, Bruka Theatre, and Area-51 Dance Theatre. During the day, Michael is an administrator in the Graduate School at UNR.

If you would like to meet the members of the cast, please stay in the auditorium for a few minutes after the final curtain.

Director

H enry IV falls into the category of Shakespeare’s plays known as the “Histories,” but don’t let the name fool you. These plays are not strict

documentaries.

For one thing, Shakespeare got most of his background from Holinshed’s Chronicles of England. A very popular edition appeared in 1587, ten years before Henry IV was written. It was the first complete study of English history, but not necessarily the best. It contained errors, many of which Shakespeare perpetuated.

But Shakespeare was not really trying to present history as it happened. He used a historical framework to tell a dramatic story, emphasizing themes of interest to himself and his audience, just as filmmakers today use historic events such as the gunfight at the OK Corral and the attack on Pearl Harbor as pretexts for telling their own tales.

That said, Shakespeare’s audiences would have been familiar with this history, just as our filmmakers may expect their audiences to have a passing familiarity with the history they use (even if only gleaned from previous film versions of the same events). So it can help to know some of the actual story of King Henry IV.

In 1398, King Richard II, to settle a dispute, exiled his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, from England for ten years. The next year, John of Gaunt—Henry’s father and Richard’s uncle—died. Richard not only failed to recall Henry from exile, but also took for his own the estates of Lancaster, which should have gone to Henry.

This, along with other erratic behaviors of Richard, caused concern among the nobility, for despite the doctrine of the divine right of kings, if he could take the property of his own cousin, he could just as easily take that of the other nobles.

So, while Richard was busy with wars in Ireland, Henry Bolingbroke returned to England. He was met by a coalition of nobles, including Henry Percy, the Earl of Northumberland, and his son, also Henry Percy, called Hotspur.

(If you’re keeping score, there is Henry Bolingbroke, Henry Percy, his son, Henry Percy, and there’s Bolingbroke’s son, Prince Henry, known as Henry Monmouth—four quite different characters, all named Henry. Henry IV is often called by his surname of Bolingbroke, usually to show contempt for him as king. The senior Henry Percy is mostly called Northumberland. The sons named Henry are called by the more familiar Harry but, most often, the Prince is called Hal, while Harry Percy goes by his nickname, Hotspur. Don’t fret about this; all will be clear in the play.)

Bolingbroke and his allies marched to meet Richard in battle, gathering the support not only of other nobles, but also of the common people. Publicly, Henry claimed only the return of his estates at Lancaster, but Richard, realizing few remained loyal to him, abdicated his throne and resigned his crown—not to Henry, but to God.

Richard had no heirs, so Henry called an assembly of the nobility at which he was proclaimed the lawful King of England. But while he was of the royal line, there was a more direct descendant, Edmund Mortimer. Some years before, Parliament had declared the Mortimers heirs to the throne in the event of Richard’s remaining childless.

Mortimer’s claim was not forgotten, especially by those for whom it would further their own ends, and it arises here as a way to cast doubt on Henry’s right to maintain the crown. By deposing a rightful king, no matter how poorly he had

reigned, Henry IV placed his own throne on a shaky foundation. If Richard may be deposed, why not Henry, especially as there is another heir? The whole basis of the government is in question, and this unsettled atmosphere colors the entire play.

As to Richard, Henry had him imprisoned for life. Within months, Richard was dead, but the exact cause remains a mystery. Some report that Richard refused all food and died of starvation. But Holinshed wrote, and Shakespeare dramatized, that Richard was murdered in prison by a knight who had heard an exasperated Henry ask if there was no man who would rid him of “this living fear”—much as his namesake Henry II had cried out against Thomas à Becket two centuries before.

Shakespeare has Henry IV—again like his predecessor—disown the crime, if crime there was. Since his implication in the death of Richard also hangs over this play, we open our version with an interpolated scene from the end of Richard II.

Shakespeare wrote Henry IV in two parts, the first in 1597, and the second a year later. As to whether they were intended to be two parts of a single story or two different plays with different themes, scholars continue to disagree. Dr. Johnson argued that the plays were separated “only because they are too long to be one.” We agree with his opinion that the two plays form one whole story, but have done some judicious editing so they fit in a single performance.

A reading of the two parts, we think, supports the single story theory, for Part One ends with some comic business of Falstaff in battle, hardly an auspicious finale for the history of a king. Part Two develops further the themes of Part One, and includes the death of Henry IV. Thus, there’s an arc of classic tragedy, from Henry’s triumph to his death, caused by his hubris along the way.

But Part Two doesn’t end at Henry’s death; it goes on to the ascension of Prince Hal to the throne as Henry V. So, this is really Hal’s story. Torn between the father figures of the King and Falstaff—neither without their faults—Hal must find his own way, and eventually, as king himself, become the young father to the kingdom, and, in Shakespeare’s view, heal many of the wounds caused by his own father.

To further develop Hal’s character, Shakespeare gives us the other young Henry, gallant Hotspur. In actions, attitudes, and even relations with their fathers, parallels are drawn between them. It is inevitable, in Shakespeare’s world of contrasts, that the two Harrys will meet. To play this up, he presents them as if they were of a similar age. In fact, at the battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, Hotspur was 39, the Prince only 16.

Thus, the climactic confrontation of the two probably never happened. It was a dramatic device to build this theme, one of many in this rich play, along with the political intrigue noted above, and the humor and pathos of Sir John Falstaff.

Ah, Falstaff. The most famous character in the play and certainly one of the most beloved of all Shakespeare’s creations. As we are short of space, we think it best that Falstaff speak for himself—and for all of us—as he most certainly will.

A word about the production itself. We’re performing with minimal sets and props, as they did in Shakespeare’s day. It is also thought that, in the original stagings, a given actor might play many parts in the same play, a practice called “doubling”—or “tripling” even. On our stage, 14 actors fill some 40 roles.

—Kirk Gardner

Reno Little Theater recommends that you attend the

One Act Festival at Hug High School

produced by Keith Roberts

“The Actor’s Nightmare” “Sure Thing” “A Stye of the Eye” “Lover Boy”

“What are you doing in There?” “Jealousy” February 19, 23, 24, 25 at 7:00 pm

February 20 and 27 at 3:00 pm 2004

345 Parr Circle Reno, NV 89512

775-788-8800

Reno Little Theater would like to thank Mr. Frank Bender for his continuing support.

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Reno Little Theater Board of Directors

Chairman -------------------------------------------------------- Diana Carter Vice-Chairman ------------------------------------------------- Carol Pevney Secretary --------------------------------------------------------- Judy Mosher Treasurer ------------------------------------------------------- Julie Douglass Board Members -------------------------- Jack Beaman, Sam Coleman,

Paul Dancer, Michael Peters, Candace Wheeler

A Lifetime of Memories Reno Little Theater Life Members

We thank them for their continuing interest. Frank Bender Bruno and Edna Benna Peter S. Bing Mrs. Karl Breckenridge Mrs. Robert Brigham Diana Carter Sam and Carol Coleman Lester Conklin, Jr. Gregory D. Corn, Esq. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. K. Cowan III Mr. and Mrs. Ken Cusick Mrs. Jack Douglass Robert and Kathy Easly John Flanigan Robert and Cathy Gabrielli Kirk Gardner and Julie Douglass Bert Goldwater Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gorrell Art and Caryn Hawman Mrs. Helen Heppner Patrick and Mary Hughes

Mrs. Martin Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Larry Kirk Joan Long Mrs. Eve Loomis Mr. George Manilla Mrs. H.E. Manville Dr. and Mrs. Thomas McCleary Mrs. Rollan Melton Mrs. Fran Merrell Mrs. Lilika Newman Carol Pevney David and Kelly Radu Mr. and Mrs. George Randolph Mrs. Warren Richardson Mrs. Sidney Robinson Mrs. Edwin Semenza Donald Stanke Anne Stewart Mrs. Joyce Sweger Mrs. Hewitt C. Wells James and Dani Woods

The Reno Little Theater 2003—2004 Season

(Reno Little Theater’s 69th season)

continues with

The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie

directed by Kathy Easly

When Michael Starkwedder runs his car into a ditch in dense fog in South Wales, and makes his way to an isolated house, he discovers a woman standing over the dead body of her wheelchair-bound husband, a gun in her hand. She admits to murder, and the unexpected guest offers to help her concoct a cover story. But what seems obvious isn't. Is it possible this woman didn't commit the murder after all? If so, who is she shielding? It's classic Christie, a tangled web of lies and cover-up, where nothing can be taken at face value, and the murderer and motive are the greatest mystery of all.

March 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 at 8:00 pm March 7, 14, 21 at 2:00 pm

2004 at Hug High

For group tickets or other information, leave a message at 329-0661 or ask at the box office.

Reno Little Theater P. O. Box 7071

Reno, NV 89510-7071 775-329-0661

http://www.RenoLittleTheater.Org