"Henry IV: Part II" is the coming-of-age story of Prince Hal and is therefore driven more by character than plot. Perhaps that is why the play can be summed up equally by the patron snoring in the seventh row and the other laughing throughout the play in the sixth row: The dialogue is witty but there is no real action.
"Part II" reunites the same cast from "Part I" to perform King Henry IV's death and Henry V's subsequent succession to the royal throne. As rumors spread throughout England that Hotspur has killed Prince Hal, uncertainty hangs over the sickly Earl of Northumberland, who hears contradictory reports from the battle at Shrewsbury. When Morton reveals the truth that Hotspur was killed, Northumberland, conflicted over abandoning his son in battle, becomes both heartbroken and bent on revenge. Meanwhile, the Archbishop of York and the other rebel leaders decide to raise an army against the king's forces with or without Northumberland's help.
In London, Falstaff coasts on the rumor that he fought valiantly at Shrewsbury and tries to ignore the King's order to raise an army to aid Prince John in Yorkshire, which is an attempt by the King to sever ties between Falstaff and Prince Hal. As news of the growing rebel forces reaches King Henry, whose health is deteriorating from the stress of impending war, the sleepless king turns his uneasy mind toward the future of an England ruled by his seemingly degenerate heir.
Meanwhile, Hotspur's impassioned widow convinces Northumberland not to join in battle against the King and flee to Scotland instead. Already geared for battle at Gaultree Forest, the archbishop and fellow rebel leaders present a list of demands to Prince John. The young prince meets the rebel in person in an attempt to avoid bloodshed and eliminate the threat of the traitors' rebellion with an unexpected and risky strategy. Falstaff, who is busy making a profit as he recruits a ragtag army, finally arrives at the battle site after the armies have gone. He praises the drinking of wine, and then heads for Gloucestershire to borrow money from an old acquaintance, Justice Shallow.
Back in London, the ailing king collapses and falls asleep. Thinking him dead, Prince Hal takes the crown from his father, only to be reprimanded when the king awakens. In an impassioned scene, father and son finally confront one another. Shortly thereafter, news of the king's death reaches Falstaff in Gloucestershire. Thinking his old tavern companion, Hal, will certainly elevate his position now that he's king, Falstaff rushes back to London. As the coronation procession passes by, Falstaff lashes out from the crows to Hal, now King Henry V. The new King, turning away from his former self, inevitably assumes his royal role and banishes Falstaff.
The cast makes the best out of the play. The costumes and staging are, as usual for the Shakespeare Theatre, impressive. The scenery is also well done but rather sparse compared to "Part I." Once again, however, the scenery was likely a reflection of what the producers had to work with plot-wise. Most importantly, the actors keep up the enthusiasm despite a few tedious parts. Seeing Shakespeare's plays staged as they were written is always vital to the understanding of the stories and times in which he wrote.
This play is just one of four plays that Shakespeare wrote about the first part of the War of the Roses. "Henry IV: Part I" and "Part II" are preceded by "Richard II" and succeeded by "Henry V." While the story of Henry V's final coronation is not particularly exciting, it is a necessary link in the narrative of the four plays. "Part II" has many amusing parts but little in the way of gripping, dramatic narrative. As with Henry V's kingship, the play is more of a duty than a joyful occasion.
