Shakespeare’s “An Age of Kings”

Fred Christensen

In-person

2:00 - 5:00 pm (11/5 and 11/12); 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. (other four sessions)

11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 12/3, 12/10, 12/17

NO CLASS 11/26

Long before "Masterpiece Theatre," there was "An Age of Kings," the BBC’s arrangement of Shakespeare’s history plays into a continuous miniseries of 15 one-hour episodes. First broadcast in the US in 1961, they introduced a generation to the turmoil, power, majesty and frailty of England’s monarchs from 1377 to 1485, and to the unmatchable brilliance of Shakespeare’s dialogue. This Group will view and discuss the first eight episodes: "Richard II," "Henry IV Parts 1 and 2," and "Henry V." A splendid ensemble of actors and actresses performs their roles continuously through the episodes — young Robert Hardy as Prince Hal/King Henry, young Judi Dench as Katherine of France, young Sean Connery (pre-007) as Hotspur, and many others. In these plays, Shakespeare probes the heights and depths of human nature — heroism and cowardice, love and hatred, from the magnificent pre-battle speeches of Henry V at Agincourt to the hilarious tavern antics of Sir John Falstaff.

Reading Materials:  Members have the option of reading copies of "Richard II," "Henry IV Part One," "Henry IV Part Two," and "Henry V." Fred will distribute handouts (essays and other items).

Facilitator: Fred Christensen has a lifelong interest in these plays and originally saw this series as a high school student in 1961. This Study Group was offered at OLLI in 2013.