Henry IV…and a hundred of his Philly friends

Ah, it’s good to be king, right? That’s something that Prince Hal will have to find out in Henry IV: Your Prince and Mine. This production, combining aspects of Henry IV: Parts I and II, is a collaboration between Team Sunshine Performance Corporation (TSPC) and Shakespeare in Clark Park. The most unique thing about it: This production features a community army of more than 100 soldiers, mostly non-actors from organizations, community groups, schools, and other places in Philadelphia, in a big battle scene.

Alex Torra, director of Henry IV and resident director of TSPC, thinks the story is relatable. There are elements of sadness, beauty, and aggression, among other things. “Those are big notions that we all have a connection to,” he said. “Mostly it’s about this guy and his journey from being pretty irresponsible and carefree to being a responsible person and son and eventually king.”

One of Prince Hal’s biggest struggles comes during a battle by a rebellion against the current king, who just happens to be his father. “What kind of person he is is put to the test at that point,” Torra said.

A live battle scene

The 100 people in the battle scene are volunteers chosen through an open-call process. They range in age from 13 to 59 and represent 36 Philly neighborhoods. They worked with a choreographer to learn their battle “steps,” and the result is everything Torra hoped it would be. At a technical rehearsal this weekend, he saw the finished product for the first time.

“It’s pretty amazing,” he said. “It’s an exciting and excitable group of people. They’re awesome."

Marla Burkholder, artistic director of Shakespeare in Clark Park and a performer in Henry IV, agrees. “It was really great,” she said.

The best part about the battle scene is that people who previously just sat in the audience now are participants in the theater experience. Both Torra and Burkholder like that.

“We do audience surveys, and we often get questions about how people can be involved. Usually, the answer is ‘you can’t,’” Burkholder said. “This seemed like a perfect way to allow for more direct interaction with our audience in a way that works within the context of the show.”

“You’ll hear a lot of people screaming. You’ll see a lot of people running,” Torra said. “You can see that in movies, and it’s great, but there’s something special about that happening in front of your eyes.”

Bring a picnic

Theater has a unique energy, but Shakespeare sometimes is a tough pill for people to swallow. Burkholder believes the Bard’s work is timeless, though, and can be made extremely relatable.

“I don’t think it’s always an immediate love for everyone. It can be difficult,” she said. “It’s important that the story be strong, that the acting and the spectacle is a piece of art that draws people in.” She won’t change the text, but will do everything short of that to try to make the experience rich, interesting, and something that people will want to engage with.

Torra thinks the best thing about theater is the connection it creates through embracing the “laughing and joy, as well as the darker qualities of the experience.” But he also just wants people to have a good time. “Mostly I want people to bring a picnic and see what we’ve done and tell us what they think.”

Shakespeare in Clark Park and Team Sunshine Performance Corporation present Henry IV: Your Prince and Mine, July 30 through August 3 at 7pm at Clark Park, 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia. For more information, visit the website. The show is free.