Kings of War 2016 - Articles Page 16

Kings of War combines Henry V, Henry VI, and Richard III into a single, penetrating play about the perils of leadership. It lays bare the political mechanisms of powerful men and exposes the dichotomy between national interests and self-importance. Henry V is an ambitious, yet inexperienced monarch, eager to prove his worth; Henry VI, an ineffectual ruler who fails to reconcile warring factions; and Richard III, an egocentric despot.

Van Hove and designer Jan Versweyveld transform the theater into a modern-day war room. Onstage cameras capture backroom dealings and a rousing battle cry is projected on screen and delivered via national broadcast. The interplay of live action and video reveals the disparate ways in which war is waged--from an air-conditioned room to a blighted street corner. The four-and-a-half hour dynastic drama "combines epic sweep and incisive detail, hurtling forward with the velocity of a dark political thriller."