“Wolf Hall" is a two part theatrical epic presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company that deals with the court of King Henry the Eighth. The production has just opened on Broadway. NY1’s Roma Torre filed this review.
Wolf Hall is a magnificent undertaking, as expansive as it is lean. Based on Hilary Mantel's award winning pair of novels about Thomas Cromwell, it is history brought to pulsing, highly animated life. Staged as two plays over the course of nearly six hours this is riveting costume drama courtesy the incomparable Royal Shakespeare Company.
It begins with the majesty of a beautifully lit pageant; and then under Jeremy Herrin’s brilliant direction it gets right down to business. The story of King Henry VIII's desire for a male heir and his desperate conjugal manipulations is likely a familiar one.
However, here the focus is on his chief aide. Cromwell, a shrewd consigliere of sorts, is regarded as the architect of England's split from Catholicism. A fascinating character worthy of a Shakespearean plot, he is a lowborn survivor both virtuous and ruthless. In addition, he is played to the hilt by Ben Miles.
The narrative, wonderfully adapted by Mike Poulton, is filled with palace intrigue and what you might call highbrow soap opera as we meet all the main players along with dozens of lesser-known characters. Credit Herrin's fluid direction for double and triple casting his 23 gifted actors, while maintaining narrative clarity despite a virtually bare stage.
The entire company comes to us from the celebrated British production and the performances are flawless down to the smallest roles. I do have to single out Paul Jesson's portrayal of the complex Cardinal Wolsey, Lydia Leonard as the ill-fated Anne Boleyn Lucy Briers' embittered Katherine of Aragon and Nathaniel Parker, taking the larger than life Henry far beyond the stereotype.
Condensing Mantel's two books entitled "Wolf Hall" and "Bring Up The Bodies," the play's creative team deserves high praise as we're left wanting more, even after nearly six hours covering some 1200 pages. We are only introduced to three of Henry's six wives in these plays. I cannot wait for this excellent troupe to bring up the other three!