Review Preview: "Henry V"

There's always a little magic in the air on opening night at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, particularly for the first show of the year.

Saturday night was no different as the company opened its expanded 45th season with "Henry V." There was, indeed, magic in the air. So was the loud, triple-guitar attack of Lynyrd Skynrd ripping through "Free Bird."

No, Bonnie Monte hasn't gone off her rocker and staged some sort of Rebel Yell version of what is perhaps my favorite of Shakespeare's plays. Across the Drew University campus square from STNJ's F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, loud music was blaring from some student event, and some from the company were worried about the potential acoustic fallout. Fortunately, once inside, what happened outside, stayed outside.

OK, OK, you want the Review Preview ... did I mention Camryn Manheim "Henry V" star David Conrad's co-star on TV's "The Ghost Whisperer" was in the audience? And the post-show buffet, for the first time, included sushi?

OK, OK ... I liked it, I really liked it.

In short, Conrad was terrific and the cast as a whole was even better, and a three-hour show went by faster than the encore version of "Free Bird." Set was old school Globe Theatre.

It may not rank with some of the mind-blowing productions this company puts up year after year, and I wouldn't quite call it a can't-miss, but it's comfortably beyond the level of "you won't be disappointed." And the promised thematic connections to the production of "Blood and Roses: Shakespeare's "Henry VI," I'm convinced, may be worth some extra effort to experience, especially for serious Shakespeare fans.

I'll quote from the first draft of my official review, which should show up in the Courier on Wednesday and the Daily Record on Friday:

"If the premiere of “Henry V” is evident quality of the long journey that awaits us [this season], then lead on, Bonnie J. Monte."

How pretentious is it to quote yourself? Oh well, now I have to go mow the lawn. That ought to humble me a little. Once more into the breach.