Want Irony? Read Shakespeare

Shakespeare, master of irony

I just finished reading Henry V and we went to Blackfriars Theater last night to see the play. Ouch...not a particularly good production. They turned many of the scenes into light comedy.

One that was particularly inappropriate was the tennis ball scene. The Dauphin, prince of France, insults Henry who led a loose and playful life before ascending the throne by sending him, via his messenger, a casket of tennis balls. Henry, who is about to invade France, responds calmly but you can see the rage roiling beneath his self control. Kenneth Brannagh is perfect in his understated anger as the young king. I highly recommend that film although the battle scenes are very graphic and bloody,