Caption 1: The illegitimate son of Richard the Lion-Hearted known as the Bastard (Bjorn Pederson) swears allegiance to his uncle King John (James Pravaselis), in his fight against Arthur and his ambitious mother Constance.
Caption 2: Constance (Tzena Nicole) receives the support of the French king as she plots to put her son on the English throne.
THIS SUMMER ALL THE WORLD"S
A STAGE
Bard on the Boulevard Continues with 'King John'
Text of article:
Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition! So goes the famous line by the Bastard in King John. Shakespeare's irreverent, swashbuckling, tragid and little-seen history play.
Area residents will have a chance to see the play in person when the Hudson Shakespeare Company presents the next installment of the "Bard on the Boulevard" series at 7:30p.m. on July 17 at David Brearly High School football field, Kenilworth. In case of rain or turbulent weather, the show will be held at Kenilworth Public Library, 548 Boulevard/
Notable to middle and high-schoolers for the signing of the Magna Carta--an accomplishment that, curiously, does not appear in the play. The historical and Shakespearean character of King John presided during the early 12th century.
In the play, King John (James Pravaselis), brother the late Richard, the Lion-Hearted, mounts a force against his nephew, the 12-year old Prince Arthur (Kindel Ingham) who is the writeful heir to the throne. John and Arthur are egged on by their powerful mothers, Eleanor of Aquataine (Michelle Robinson) and Lady Constance (Tzena Nicole) respectively.
Personal and family grudges translate into political alliances and famous battles, which are observed and sarcastically commented on by Richard the Bastard (Bjorn Pederson), the illegitimate son of Richard the Lion-Hearted. The Bastard-the name fits both his personality and his birth-serves as the audience guide narrating the fickle political alliances and "glorious" military engagements as they change at the drop of the hat. The play abounds with comical and political grandstanding, convenient public policy changes, dubious military engagements and behind-the-scenes tragedies.
Each season Hudson Shakespeare Company produces one or two lesser-known works. The company believes that King John stands out as one of the more relatable history plays as it takes dry and remote people and events and infuses them with humor and pathos.
The show ranges from scenes that could be straight of Monty Python and the Holy Grail to rousing sword fights, all in the context of how blind personal ambition often leads to ill ends.
Written sometime between 1590-1596, King John, holds the distinction of being one of the two Shakespeare history plays that fit into a four-play cycle. the other being Henry VIII. This has led to an easy classification as it blends both high comedy and tragedy in the same work.
King John was written at a time of major clashes between Protestant England and Catholic Europe, but the play remains ambivalent in its judgment of its characters. Is King John stubbornly egocentric or asserting his right to rule his country against outside forces? Are the church officials dubious in their motives or looking to quell an ambitious tyrant? Shakespeare often leave the audience to decide.
For all of its intrigues, the play also explores domestic issues. One of the most famous lines, "Grief fills up the room of my absent child." may directly relate to Shakespeare's son's death in 1596, which gives the scene an extra poignancy.
The performance is free and open to the general public. Those planning to attend should bring their own lawn chairs or other outdoor seating, as no other seating will be available. For more information, call the Kenilworth Public Library at (908) 276-2451.
