Although each production can stand alone, there is value in seeing them in order and watching the evolution of one kingdom into another…and then another…Geraint Wyn Davies is delightful as Sir John Falstaff–a character with great charm, but questionable morals, who has become somewhat of a father figure to Prince Hal. Wyn Davies excels at highlighting all of Falstaff’s comedic moments, while also giving him a beautiful depth, which allows for very moving moments–like his thoughtful soliloquy about the nature of “honour”, and the powerfully sad moment in REDEMPTION when he realizes that his relationship with the new King is forever changed.

I have been deeply immersed in Shakespeare’s history plays for decades now, so I am completely incapable of figuring out how accessible and understandable this production is to people unfamiliar with the plays and the history behind it. I thought that Abbey’s adaptation was very clear in highlighting the important beats of the story as it unfolded, but at this point I could see these plays in an entirely foreign language and still know what was going on…It is (understandably) very rare to be able to see all four of these plays performed in the same season with the same cast, which is a pity as they are inextricably linked together. The Breath of Kings adaptation is a great way to see them all placed within their proper context, without having to sit through twelve straight hours of history plays.

the pace clipping along at cinematic speed, and may just be the ticket to opening new (read: teenage) audiences to the charms of the Bard…It is not strictly necessary to see both Rebellion and Redemption, as either stands finely on its own; though if pressed for time I might recommend seeing Rebellion simply because it is the only version of Richard II to hit Stratford stages in almost twenty years, and Tom Rooney is such a fine actor in it. But to get the full dividends from the efforts of this ambitious adaptation, its directors and its excellent, nimble cast, try to see them both, and in order.

The theatrical distillation unfolds like a made-for-TV action movie…Such an ambitious project would have been seriously compromised without a solid foundation of actors. Rooney is utterly captivating as the impetuously mercurial Richard in the first half of Rebellion. He delivers a beautifully modulated, self-contained, multi-layered, bravura performance. We hang on his every word until his murdered body is rolled out of a funeral shroud in dramatic fashion….Rooney reappears as a charming Justice Shallow in the first half of Redemption.
A tip to the wary: It goes without saying that it’s always worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the play before seeing a Shakespearean production. This is particularly true of Breath of Kings which in some instances plays loose and free with Shakespeare’s texts. A little prep homework will pay off handsomely.

There is a whole lot that is enjoyable, interesting, and important about these two plays – more than enough to dedicate six hours of your time….The four plays in the cycle are often performed individually (particularly Henry V, which Stratford last produced in 2012), but they suffer for it. Condensing all four plays into two brings into sharp relief the complex relationships that run through the cycle, clarifying the often-complicated plot and heightening the emotional stakes. [“Breath of Kings: Rebellion” and “Breath of Kings: Redemption can bee seen individually]

Purists who might worry that the cuts to Shakespeare in this production are a gesture of dumbing down can reassure themselves that the original plays continue to exist between the covers of millions of volumes worldwide and will doubtless by staged again by Stratford itself before too long. What’s so exciting to see here is the sense of engagement and adventurousness by Abbey in reshaping these plays for contemporary sensibilities, and the confidence that the festival has shown in him and in Cushman and Mengesha, each directing at Stratford for only the second time.

There are terrific performances in both plays worth seeing. Tom Rooney routinely turns in stellar performances but even by his standards his turn as Richard II in Rebellion is something special. It is an acting master class. His range is infinite…Araya Mengesha is a perfect bruised rogue as Hal, drinking his life away with Falstaff. He’s always up for a good joke but there are wounds close to the surface and once in a while we get a peek.