King Henry IV, Part 1

About this book

King Henry IV, Part 1 is the second of Shakespeare’s eight Wars of the Roses history plays, with events following those of King Richard II. As the play opens, King Henry IV (formerly Henry Bolingbroke) and Henry Percy (Hotspur) argue over the disposition of prisoners from the Battle of Holmedon. The King’s attitude toward Mortimer and the Percy family prompts them to plot rebellion. In the meantime, his son Prince Hal is living the low life in the company of Sir John Falstaff. As the time of battle nears, Prince Hal joins his father and is given a high command. The play’s climax is the Battle of Shrewsbury, in which Prince Hal and Hotspur meet and fight, with Prince Hal and the forces of the King prevailing. The action continues in King Henry IV, Part 2. From the start this has been an extremely popular play both with the public and with critics. (Summary by Laurie Anne Walden and Wikipedia) Characters: Narrator/stage directions: read by Kalynda King Henry IV and Douglas: read by Mark F. Smith Henry, Prince of Wales: read by Max Porter Zasada Prince John of Lancaster: read by Brian Edwards Earl of Westmoreland: read by Larysa Jaworski Sir Walter Blunt: read by Joshua B. Christensen Earl of Worcester: read by David Barnes Northumberland and 2nd Messenger: read by Lisa Wilson Henry Percy (Hotspur): read by Michael Sirois Edmund Mortimer: read by Scott Sherris Scroop, Archbishop of York: read by Vin Reilly Peto, Sir Michael, Chamberlain, and Travellers: read by Mockfrog Owen Glendower: read by Denny Sayers Sir Richard Vernon: read by David Muncaster Sir John Falstaff: read by John Lieder Poins: read by Jordan Schneider Gadshill, Francis, and Ostler: read by Alan Clare Bardolph: read by David Zezulka Lady Percy: read by Cecelia Prior Mrs. Quickly, Hostess: read by Rosalind Wills First Carrier: read by Maria Morabe Second Carrier: read by Ophelia Darcy Servant: read by Katie Gibboney Vintner: read by Lauren Tunnell Verdeyen Sheriff: read by Heather Barnett First Messenger: read by Laurie Anne Walden