Photos from our production of Shakespeare's King Henry the Fourth, I & II
Produced February 2007
Performed at the Rock Island Masonic Lodge

Prenzie offers sprawling, brawling `Henry IV'
By Julie Jensen

The Prenzie Players' production of "King Henry the Fourth" offers the wildest action to date in the company's Shakespearean performances.

A substantial audience Friday night became part of the show, swiveling necks to locate the action and rising to applaud King Henry.

What's going on here? Henry IV drops his plan to lead an expedition to the Holy Land, in penance for the death of Richard II, when he learns of uprisings in Wales and Scotland.

Hotspur has conquered the Scots but won't give up his Scottish prisoners until Henry ransoms his wife's brother, Edmund Mortimer, who was captured by Owen Glendower, the Welsh warrior. The king refuses, and they decide to revolt.

Prenzie’s ‘Henry’ overflowing with humor, emotion

By Ruby Nancy | Thursday, March 01, 2007

The Prenzie Players have produced the second play of The Henriad, “King Henry the Fourth,” and has made it possible — for all of us who have been on the edge of our seats waiting for it — to sit back and enjoy.

It is a very different show than “Richard the Second,” which was loaded with high political drama and much soul-searching, but this new show in the trilogy does continue the story.

Henry IV, who replaced Richard II as King of England in the first drama, now faces a variety of threats to his own power. His wastrel eldest son, Henry of Monmouth, known as Hal, is perceived as weak, and the jockeying by others who would rather install themselves as the next king — plus the pressure for Hal to step up to the plate — make up much of the dramatic storyline in this show.

Due to the horrendous weather this past weekend we have decided to add a matinee on Sunday, March 4th at 1pm (doors open at 12:30pm)!!

The Henriad: King Henry the Fourth
Prenzie Players present King Henry the Fourth, the second play in Shakespeare’s epic trilogy of power, love, and war, The Henriad--performed with a continuous cast for the first time in the area.

Raucous, hilarious, and heartbreaking, the next play, King Henry the Fourth, centers on the figure of the Prince of Wales, Hal, who, alienated from his cold father, spends his time in the company of thieves, drunkards, prostitutes, and a certain enormously fat knight long considered one of the greatest and wittiest characters in the theatrical repertory—Sir John Falstaff. As his distant and sick father falls ever closer to death, and his own succession nears, Hal must choose where his true allegiance lies—with his lowborn friends or the noble peers of his blood.

Throne for a Loop: King Henry the Fourth
at the Rock Island Masonic Temple through March 4
Written by Mike Schulz
Wednesday, 28 February 2007

King Henry the Fourth, the Prenzie Players' second presentation in their Henriad trilogy, opened on Friday, and let me preface by admitting that I have a tougher time composing reviews for this troupe's productions than for any other area organization. When faced, in show after show, with such imagination and daring and passion, where does one start?

With King Henry the Fourth, for instance, I could - and should - discuss the ingenuity of J.C. Luxton's pastiche-like adaptation, a model of dramatic clarity that effectively merges Shakespeare's Henry IV parts I and II into a seamless whole. I could expound on the gusto with which the Prenzies stage wildly contrasting elements: The battle scenes aren't just smartly choreographed, they're surprising; and the romantic encounters aren't just believable, they're erotic.

To all,

Due to the horrendous weather conditions, Prenzie Players regretfully announces the cancellation of tonight's performance of King Henry the Fourth. We do not wish to endanger either our actors, some of whom travel a fair distance to get to the space, nor our faithful fans. Please stay home with your families and stay safe.

The rest of the run will go as scheduled, and we hope to see you.

8pm, Sunday, February 25th
8pm, Thursday, March 1st
8pm, Friday, March 2nd
8pm, Saturday, March 3rd.

Sincerely,

Cait, Denise, Tracy and the cast.

The Henriad: King Henry the Fourth

Prenzie Players present King Henry the Fourth, the second play in Shakespeare’s epic trilogy of power, love, and war, The Henriad--performed with a continuous cast for the first time in the area.

Raucous, hilarious, and heartbreaking, the next play, King Henry the Fourth, centers on the figure of the Prince of Wales, Hal, who, alienated from his cold father, spends his time in the company of thieves, drunkards, prostitutes, and a certain enormously fat knight long considered one of the greatest and wittiest characters in the theatrical repertory—Sir John Falstaff. As his distant and sick father falls ever closer to death, and his own succession nears, Hal must choose where his true allegiance lies—with his lowborn friends or the noble peers of his blood.

Here are all the Prenzie-cut scripts from every show we've done.

Henry IV is cast!
Come and see part two of Prenzie Player's production of the Henriad!

The Masonic Temple
420 18th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201

Friday, February 23rd 8pm
Saturday, February 24th 8pm
Sunday, February 25th 8pm
Thursday, March 1st 8pm
Friday, March 2nd 8pm
Saturday, March 3rd 8pm

The curtain will be at 8pm with doors opening and preshow at 730pm.
A suggested donation of $8 for all.