by William Shakespeare

Straight-up Falstaff.

We have heard the chimes at midnight,
Master Shallow. -- III.ii

Blackfriars Premiere. In his second great Falstaff play, Shakespeare gives us all the bawdiness and excitement of the first play—but also gives us a profound understanding of what it is to leave our youth behind, what it is to grow older. From Doll Tearsheet’s warm embrace to Pistol’s virile swagger to Falstaff’s ravenous hunger for everything, Henry IV, Part 2 celebrates the elusive thing we all desire: more life. James Keegan returns as Falstaff—the abominable misleader of youth—in one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays.

Henry IV, Part 2 continues the story of King Henry, Falstaff, and Prince Hal in our series The Histories: The Rise and Fall of Kings. Next year we continue The Histories with Henry V.

Simultaneously, during our Actors’ Renaissance Season, we explore the Wars of the Roses, continuing in the 2011 Renaissance Season with Henry VI, Part 3 and in 2012 with Richard III.