2009 Season - Genesius Guild

Shakespeare: Henry VI - part 3

Henry VI is unique among Shakespeare’s English kings. He is a saintly man who was crowned while still an infant and the only one among his huge web of relatives, who was not interested in warfare or power. unlike his furious queen, Margaret.

In the final part of Shakespeare’s Henry VI trilogy, Henry’s mildness is challenged by members of the House of York, whose leader has a stronger claim to the throne. Henry is of the House of Lancaster, whose members wear red roses. Followers of York identify themselves with white roses, which gave this civil war among English nobility the title, “War of the Roses.”

Of York’s three sons, Edward and Richard will wear the crown before surrendering it in another celebrated Shakespearean history, “Richard III.” But this play takes us through the end of Henry’s unfortunate life.

The cast is a huge one, which requires a fair amount of doubling roles, and shrinks two mighty armies into five soldiers. As the Bard put it, “Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts,” and reflect, as Shakespeare obviously did, as to whether or not a virtuous man can be an effective ruler.

2009 production photos ~ Photos 1 ~ Photos 2 ~ Photos 3 ~ Photos 4

See Henry VI part 3 in the Play Resources

2009 Print Program