David Gordon has the rare gift of slyly slipping profound commentary into what appears to be a wacky good time. Example: “Dancing Henry Five,” which will be revived after four years at Montclair State’s Peak Performances, October 6-9. Using physical staging, movie, music and select bits of Shakespeare’s own language, this severely condensed version (from five hours to one hour) of the Bard’s anti-war play takes on contemporary relevance through its veiled, and sometimes not-so-veiled, allusions to present day politics, love and war, proving some things never change.

Among the headliners in the show are downtown dancer and actress luminary Valda Setterfield and former New York City Ballet principal Robert La Fosse.

“Dancing Henry Five” marks the third time a revival of a work by Gordon has been selected for funding by the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces: Dance Program. The other two works were “Shlemiel the First,” which was produced at Peak Performances in 2010, and “Trying Times.”

Want to go? Baristanet has five pairs of tickets to the show’s opening performance on Thursday evening. We’ll give them to the first five people to correctly answer the question below. Answer as a comment to the post.

QUESTION: Shakespeare’s original play tells the story of King Henry V of England, focusing on events immediately before and after the Battle of Agincourt (1415) during the Hundred Years’ War. Name one of the many characters to share the play with the young prince. No repeats of characters already mentioned.

Performance times:
October 6, 7 at 7:30pm
October 8 at 8pm
October 9 at 3pm
All tickets are $15 and are available at the Alexander Kasser Theater Box Office, by calling 973-655-5112 or online.

6 replies on ““Dancing Henry Five” at Peak Performances”

  5. You’re all right so far, though one winner actually can’t go. Please check your emails for a message about picking up your tickets. We have still have 2 unclaimed pairs.

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