Adaptations Henry VI, Part 1

1 adaptations

1.1 theatrical
1.2 film
1.3 television
1.4 radio
1.5 manga

adaptations
theatrical

evidence first adaptation of 1 henry vi not found until 1817, when edmund kean appeared in j.h. merivale s richard duke of york; or contention of york , lancaster @ drury lane, used material 3 henry vi plays, removed not directly related york; play ended death, occurs in act 1, scene 4 of 3 henry vi. material used 1 henry vi includes temple garden scene, mortimer scene , introduction of margaret.

following merivale s example, robert atkins adapted 3 plays single piece performance @ old vic in 1923 part of celebrations tercentenary of first folio. guy martineau played henry, esther whitehouse played margaret, ernest meads played talbot , jane bacon played joan.

joan (katy stephens) burned alive in michael boyd s 2006 production @ courtyard theatre

the success of 1951–53 douglas seale stand-alone productions of each of individual plays in birmingham prompted him present 3 plays @ old vic in 1957 under general title wars of roses. barry jackson adapted text, altering trilogy two-part play. 1 henry vi , 2 henry vi combined (with of 1 henry vi eliminated) , 3 henry vi edited. seale again directed, paul daneman again appearing henry, alongside barbara jefford margaret. roles of both talbot , joan removed, , 1 henry vi reduced 3 scenes – funeral of henry v, temple garden scene , introduction of margaret.

the production credited establishing reputation of play in modern theatre john barton , peter hall s 1963/1964 rsc production of tetralogy, adapted three-part series, under general title wars of roses, @ royal shakespeare theatre. first play (entitled henry vi) featured shortened version of 1 henry vi , half of 2 henry vi (up death of beaufort). second play (entitled edward iv) featured second half of 2 henry vi , shortened version of 3 henry vi, followed shortened version of richard iii third play. in all, 1,450 lines written barton added 6,000 lines of original shakespearean material, total of 12,350 lines removed. production starred david warner henry, peggy ashcroft margaret, derek smith (later replaced clive swift) talbot , janet suzman joan. barton , hall both concerned plays reflect contemporary political environment, civil chaos , breakdown of society depicted in plays mirrored in contemporary milieu, events such building of berlin wall in 1961, cuban missile crisis in 1962 , assassination of john f. kennedy in 1963. hall allowed these events reflect in production, arguing live among war, race riots, revolutions, assassinations, , imminent threat of extinction. theatre is, therefore, examining fundamentals in staging henry vi plays. influenced politically focused literary theory of time; both had attended 1956 london visit of bertolt brecht s berliner ensemble, both subscribers antonin artaud s theory of theatre of cruelty , , hall had read english translation of jan kott s influential shakespeare our contemporary in 1964 prior publication in britain. both barton , hall supporters of e. m. w. tillyard s 1944 book shakespeare s history plays, still hugely influential text in shakespearian scholarship, in terms of argument shakespeare in tetralogy advancing tudor myth.

another major adaptation staged in 1987 english shakespeare company, under direction of michael bogdanov. touring production opened @ old vic, , subsequently toured 2 years, performing at, amongst other places, panasonic globe theatre in tokyo, japan (as inaugural play of arena), festival dei due mondi in spoleto, italy , @ adelaide festival in australia. following structure established barton , hall, bogdanov combined heavily edited 1 henry vi , first half of 2 henry vi 1 play (henry vi), , second half of 2 henry vi , 3 henry vi (edward iv), , followed them edited richard iii. barton , hall, bogdanov concentrated on political issues, although made them far more overt had predecessors. example, played june watson, margaret closely modelled after british prime minister @ time, margaret thatcher, point of having similar clothes , hair. likewise, paul brennan s henry closely modelled after king edward viii, prior abdication. bogdanov employed frequent anachronisms , contemporary visual registers (such modern dress), in effort show relevance of politics contemporary period. production noted pessimism regards british politics, critics feeling political resonances heavy handed. however, series huge box office success. alongside watson , brennan, play starred michael fenner talbot , mary rutherford joan.

another adaptation of tetralogy royal shakespeare company followed in 1988, performed @ barbican. adapted charles wood , directed adrian noble, barton/hall structure again followed, reducing trilogy 2 plays dividing 2 henry vi in middle. resulting trilogy entitled plantagenets, individual plays entitled henry vi, rise of edward iv , richard iii, death. starring ralph fiennes henry, penny downie margaret, mark hadfield talbot , julia ford joan, production extremely successful both audiences , critics.

michael bogdanov , english shakespeare company presented different adaptation @ swansea grand theatre in 1991, using same cast on touring production. 8 plays history cycle presented on 7 night period, each play receiving 1 performance only, , twenty-eight actors portraying 5 hundred roles. whilst other 5 plays in cycle unadapted, henry vi plays combined two, using barton/hall structure, first named house of lancaster , second, house of york.

in 2000, edward hall presented trilogy two-part series @ watermill theatre in newbury. hall followed jackson/seale structure, combining 1 henry vi , 2 henry vi 1 play eliminated 1 henry vi, , following edited version of 3 henry vi. production noted how handled violence of play. set designed abattoir, rather attempt present violence realistically (as productions do), hall went in other direction, presenting violence symbolically. whenever character decapitated or killed, red cabbage sliced whilst actor mimed death beside it.

in 2001, tom markus directed adaptation of tetralogy @ colorado shakespeare festival. condensing fours plays one, markus named play queen margaret, doing same character of margaret merivale had done york. margaret played gloria biegler, henry richard haratine, york lars tatom , gloucester charles wilcox. scene 1 henry vi meeting between margaret , suffolk.

poster 2001 shakespeare s rugby wars

another unusual 2001 adaptation of tetralogy entitled shakespeare s rugby wars. written matt toner , chris coculuzzi, , directed coculuzzi, play acted upstart crow theatre group , staged outdoors @ robert street playing field part of toronto fringe festival. presented if live rugby match between york , lancaster, play featured commentary falstaff (stephen flett), broadcast live audience. match refereed bill shakespeare (played coculuzzi), , actors (whose characters names appeared on jerseys) had microphones attached , recite dialogue 4 plays @ key moments.

in 2002, leon rubin presented tetralogy trilogy @ stratford shakespeare festival in ontario. using barton/hall method of combining 1 henry vi first half of 2 henry vi, , second half of 2 henry vi 3 henry vi, plays renamed henry vi: revenge in france , henry vi: revolt in england. michael thierry played henry, seana mckenna played margaret, brad ruby played talbot , michelle giroux played joan.

also in 2002, edward hall , propeller company presented one-play all-male cast modern dress adaptation of trilogy @ watermill theatre. under title rose rage, hall used cast of thirteen actors portray 1 hundred , fifty speaking roles in four-hour production, necessitating doubling , tripling of parts. although new adaptation, production followed jackson/seale method of eliminating of 1 henry vi (joan absent). original cast included jonathan mcguinness henry, robert hands margaret , keith bartlett talbot. after successful run @ watermill, play moved chicago shakespeare theater. american cast included carman lacivita henry, scott parkinson margaret , fletcher mctaggart talbot.

outside england, major adaptation of tetralogy took place in 1864 in weimar under direction of franz von dingelstedt, who, 7 years had staged play unedited. dingelstedt turned trilogy two-parter under general name die weisse rose. first play called haus lancaster, second haus york. adaptation unique insofar both plays created combining material 3 henry vi plays. following structure, alfred von walzogen produced two-part play in 1875, under general title edward iv. european adaptation in 1965 @ teatro piccolo in milan. directed giorgio strehler went under title il gioco del potenti (the play of mighty). using barton , hall s structure, strehler added several characters, including chorus, used monologues richard ii, both parts of henry iv, henry v, macbeth , timon of athens, , 2 gravediggers called bevis , holland (after names of 2 of cade s rebels in folio text of 2 henry vi), commented (with dialogue written strehler himself) on each of major characters set burying them. major german adaptation peter palitzsch s two-part adaptation of trilogy der krieg der rosen in 1967 @ stuttgart state theatre. condensing 3 plays two, heinrich vi , eduard iv, palitzsch s adaptation concluded opening monologue richard iii.

film

the cinematic adaptation of play came in 1973 horror comedy film theatre of blood, directed douglas hickox. vincent price stars in film edward lionheart, (self)regarded finest shakespearean actor of time. when fails awarded prestigious critic s circle award best actor, sets out exacting bloody revenge on critics gave him poor reviews, each act inspired death in shakespeare play. 1 such act of revenge involves critic chloe moon (coral browne). lionheart electrocutes moon using pair of hair curlers, whilst recites excerpts act 5, scene 4 of 1 henry vi, joan sentenced burn @ stake.

television

the first television adaptation of play in 1960 when bbc produced serial entitled age of kings. show comprised fifteen sixty- , seventy-five-minute episodes adapted 8 of shakespeare s sequential history plays. directed michael hayes , produced peter dews, script eric crozier, production featured terry scully henry, mary morris margaret , eileen atkins joan. ninth episode, under title red rose , white presented heavily abridged version of 1 henry vi. episode running 1 hour, great deal of text removed (1 henry vi play in octology screened in 1 episode, opposed split on two). perhaps significant cuts complete removal of character of talbot, , excision of battle scenes in france.

in 1965, bbc 1 broadcast 3 plays john barton , peter hall s wars of roses trilogy (henry vi, rise of edward iv , richard iii) david warner henry , peggy ashcroft margaret. directed television robin midgley , michael hayes, plays presented more filmed theatre, core idea being recreate theatre production in televisual terms – not merely observe it, heart of it. filming done on rsc stage, not during actual performances, allowing cameras close actors, , cameramen hand-held cameras shoot battle scenes. additionally, camera platforms created around theatre. in all, twelve cameras used, allowing final product edited more film piece of static filmed theatre. filming done following 1964 run of plays @ stratford-upon-avon, , took place on eight-week period, fifty-two bbc staff working alongside eighty-four rsc staff bring project fruition. in 1966, production repeated on bbc 1 re-edited eleven episodes of fifty minutes each. first episode, inheritance covered acts 1, 2, 3 , act 4, scene 1, ending henry choosing red rose , inadvertently aligning himself somerset. second episode, margaret of anjou , presented rest of 1 henry vi, beginning talbot confronting french general @ harfleur (bordeaux in play), first half of act 1, scene 1 of 2 henry vi (concluding henry , margaret departing court).

another television version of play produced bbc in 1981 bbc television shakespeare series, although episode didn t air until 1983. directed jane howell, play presented first part of tetralogy (all 4 adaptations directed howell) linked casting. henry played peter benson, margaret julia foster, talbot trevor peacock , joan brenda blethyn. howell s presentation of complete first historical tetralogy 1 of lauded achievements of entire bbc series, , prompted stanley wells argue productions purer version given in theatre since shakespeare s time. michael mannheim impressed, calling tetralogy fascinating, fast paced , surprisingly tight-knit study in political , national deterioration.

joan (brenda blethyn) faces off against talbot (trevor peacock) during siege of orléans. note brightly coloured adventure playground set, stands out against studio-bound parquet flooring.

inspired notion political intrigues behind wars of roses seemed playground squabbles, howell , production designer oliver bayldon staged 4 plays in single set resembling children s adventure playground. however, little attempt made @ realism. example, bayldon did not disguise parquet flooring ( stops set literally representing [...] reminds in modern television studio ), , in 4 productions, title of play displayed within set (on banners in 1 henry vi , 2 henry vi (where visible throughout entire first scene), on shroud in 3 henry vi, , written on chalkboard richard himself in richard iii). many critics felt these set design choices lent production air of brechtian verfremdungseffekt. stanley wells wrote of set intended invite viewer accept play s artificiality of language , action, michael hattaway describes anti-illusionist, susan willis argues set allows productions reach theatrically toward modern world , ronald knowles writes major aspect of set subliminal suggestion of childlike anarchy, role-playing, rivalry, game , vandalism, if culture precariously balanced on shaky foundations of atavistic aggression , power-mad possession. element of verfremdungseffekt in production seen when gloucester , winchester encounter 1 @ tower, both on horseback, horses ride hobby-horses, actors (david burke , frank middlemass respectively) cause pivot , prance speak. ridiculousness of situation works undercut characters dignity , status. anti-illusionist set used means of political commentary; 4 plays progressed, set decayed , became more , more dilapidated social order became more fractious. in same vein, costumes become more , more monotone 4 plays move on. first part of henry sixt features brightly coloured costumes distinguish various combatants 1 another, tragedy of richard iii, fights in coloured dark costumes, little differentiate 1 army another. graham holderness saw howell s non-naturalistic production of reaction bbc s adaptation of henriad in seasons 1 , two, had been directed david giles in traditional , straightforward manner favoured series producer cedric messina; messina saw history plays conventionally orthodox tudor historiography, , [david giles] employed dramatic techniques allow ideology free , unhampered passage spectator, jane howell takes more complex view of first tetralogy as, simultaneously, serious attempt @ historical interpretation, , drama peculiarly modern relevance , contemporary application. plays, director, not dramatisation of elizabethan world picture sustained interrogation of residual , emergent ideologies in changing society [...] awareness of multiplicity of potential meanings in play required decisive , scrupulous avoidance of television or theatrical naturalism: methods of production should operate open plays out, rather close them recognisable familiarity of conventional shakespearean production.

for part, howell s adaptation taken word-for-word first folio, relatively minor differences. example, adaptation opens differently play, henry vi singing lament father. difference fastolf s escape rouen seen rather merely mentioned. worth noting act 5, scene 1 , act 5, scene 2 reversed act 4, scene 7 , act 5, scene 2 form 1 continuous piece. additionally, numerous lines cut every scene. of more notable omissions include; in act 1, scene 1, absent bedford s references children crying , england becoming marsh since henry v died: posterity await wretched years/when, @ mothers moistened eyes, babes shall suck,/our isle made marish of salt tears,/and none women left wail dead. (ll.48–51). in act 1, scene 2, alençon s praise of resoluteness of english army absent: froissart, countryman of ours, records/england olivers , rolands bred/during time edward third did reign./more may verified,/for none samsons , goliases/it sendeth forth skirmish. (ll.29–34). in act 1, scene 3, of dialogue between gloucester , winchester outside tower absent (ll.36–43), whilst in act 1, scene 5, talbot s complaint french wanting ransom him prisoner of less worth: baser man-of-arms far,/once in contempt have bartered me—/which i, disdaining, scorned, , crav d death/rather vile-esteemed (ll.8–11). in act 1, scene 7, of charles praise of joan absent: statelier pyramis ll rear/than rhodope s of memphis ever was./in memory of her, when dead,/her ashes, in urn more precious/than rich-jewelled coffer of darius,/transported shall @ high festivals/before kings , queens of france (ll.21–27). in act 3, scene 1, of warwick’s attack on winchester absent: see mischief – , murder –/hath been enacted through enmity (ll.27–28). in act 4, scene 6, of dialogue between talbot , john has been removed (ll.6–25). interesting omissions come in act 4, scene 7. in scene, twelve of joan s sixteen lines have been cut; entire 7 line speech says john talbot refused fight because woman (ll.37–43); first 3 lines of 5 line mockery of lucy s listing of talbot s titles, here s silly, stately style indeed./the turk, two-and-fifty kingdoms hath,/writes not tedious style (ll.72–75); , first 2 lines of 4 line speech mocks lucy, think upstart old talbot s ghost,/he speaks such proud commanding spirit (ll.86–88). these omissions reduce joan s role in scene virtual spectator, , coupled this, brenda blethyn portrays character if troubled (presumably loss of contact fiends ).

another notable stylistic technique used in adaptation multiple addresses direct-to-camera. more in of sequels, adaptation of 1 henry vi has multiple characters addressing camera continually throughout play, oftentimes comic effect. noticeable scene in respect act 2, scene 3, talbot meets countess of auvergne. of dialogue prior line 32 ( if thou he, thou art prisoner ) delivered direct camera, including incredulous description of difference between real talbot, , reports has heard of him. @ 1 point during speech, auvergne exclaims alas, child, silly dwarf (l.21), @ point talbot himself looks @ camera in disbelief. comedy of scene enhanced having 5-foot 10 actor trevor peacock playing talbot, , 6-foot 3 actress joanna mccallum playing auvergne. elsewhere, addresses camera found throughout play. example, bedford, gloucester, exeter , winchester leave in act 1, scene 1, each 1 reveals intentions direct-to-camera (ll.166–177).

other examples joan s confession of got sword (1.2.100–101); mayor s last 2 lines @ tower (1.3.89–90); talbot s thoughts whirl d potter s wheel./i know not nor do./a witch, fear, not force, hannibal,/drives our troops , conquers lists (1.6.19–22); of mortimer s monologue prior arrival of richard (2.5.22–32); richard s plantagenet, see, must hold tongue,/lest said, speak, sirrah, when should:/must bold verdict enter talk lords? /else have fling @ winchester (3.1.61–64); exeter s soliloquy @ end of act 3, scene 1 (ll.190–203); exeter s soliloquy @ end of act 4, scene 1 (ll.182–194); of dialogue between suffolk , margaret ignore 1 (5.4.16–64); , suffolk s soliloquy, closes play (5.6.102–109). to-camera joan s poor market folks come sell corn (3.2.14), delivered if translation of preceding line benefit of non-french speaking audience.

in 1964, austrian channel orf 2 presented adaptation of trilogy leopold lindtberg under title heinrich vi. cast list production has been lost. in 1969, german channel zdf presented filmed version of first part of peter palitzsch s 1967 two-part adaptation of trilogy in stuttgart, heinrich vi: der krieg der rosen 1. second part, eduard iv: der krieg der rosen 2, screened in 1971.

radio

in 1923, extracts 3 henry vi plays broadcast on bbc radio, performed cardiff station repertory company third episode of series of programs showcasing shakespeare s plays, entitled shakespeare night. in 1947, bbc third programme aired one-hundred-and-fifty-minute adaptation of trilogy part of shakespeare s historical plays series, six-part adaptation of 8 sequential history plays, linked casting. adapted maurice roy ridley, king henry vi starred john byron henry , gladys young margaret. entirety of 1 henry vi cut, related conflict in france being removed. in 1952, third programme aired adaptation of tetralogy peter watts , john dover wilson under general name wars of roses. tetralogy adapted trilogy in unusual way. 1 henry vi removed, trilogy contained 2 henry vi, 3 henry vi , richard iii. adaptation starred valentine dyall henry , sonia dresdel margaret. in 1971, bbc radio 3 presented two-part adaptation of trilogy raymond raikes. part 1 contained abridged 1 henry vi , abridged version of first 3 acts of 2 henry vi. part 2 presented acts 4 , 5 of 2 henry vi , abridged 3 henry vi. nigel lambert played henry, barbara jefford played margaret, francis de wolff played talbot , elizabeth morgan played joan. in 1977, bbc radio 4 presented 26-part serialisation of 8 sequential history plays under general title vivat rex (long live king). adapted martin jenkins part of celebration of silver jubilee of elizabeth ii, 1 henry vi comprised episodes 15 ( joan of arc ) , 16 ( white rose , red ). james laurenson played henry, peggy ashcroft played margaret, clive swift played talbot, hannah gordon played joan, , richard burton narrated.

in america, in 1936, heavily edited adaptation of trilogy broadcast part of nbc blue s radio guild series. comprising 3 sixty-minute episodes aired week apart, adaptation written vernon radcliffe , starred henry herbert henry , janet nolan margaret. in 1954, cbc radio presented adaptation of trilogy andrew allen, combined 1 henry vi, 2 henry vi , 3 henry vi one-hundred-and-sixty-minute episode. there no known cast information production.

in 1985, german radio channel sender freies berlin broadcast heavily edited seventy-six-minute two-part adaptation of octology adapted rolf schneider, under title shakespeare s rosenkriege.

manga

aya kanno s japanese manga comic requiem of rose king loose adaptation of first shakespearean historical tetralogy, covering henry vi , richard iii.