Merced ShakespeareFest ‘unto the breach’ with ‘Henry V’

Now in its 14th season, Merced ShakespeareFest will delve into its first history play from the Bard, according to organizers.

The free summer performances of William Shakespeare’s “Henry V” will kick off with shows at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sept. 12.

Heading up the play that tells the story of King Henry V and the Battle of Agincourt, a major English victory in the Hundred Years’ War, is Jim Bennett.

The Atwater High graduate and Army veteran saw time in a war zone while serving two tours in Afghanistan. But, he’s quick to say his time as a specialist in the military is surely different than a king commanding an entire army.

“I know what it’s like to be a soldier, and Henry refers to himself as a soldier many times,” the 34-year-old said. “I was a very low-ranking soldier; he’s a king. So, that I have to use my imagination for.”

Bennett has been involved in 13 productions with the theater company. He said this production was special for him, because he shares scenes with his 13-year-old son, Edmond Bennett-Young, who plays the tavern boy.

The young character joins up with King Henry’s forces after the tavern scene, which is well-known sequence among theater buffs. The character goes on to appear in a number of other pivotal scenes in the play.

“This has been my hobby for many years,” Bennett said. “It’s been a lot of fun being able to spend a summer rehearsing a show with (Edmond).”

The ShakespeareFest has done just about all of the comedies in the Bard’s canon of plays, according to Heike Hambley, founder and artistic director of the annual show. So “Henry V” is something of a departure.

“I’m very excited about that,” she said. “It’s our first history play, and we always want to do something different.”

The story contains rousing speeches, gallows humor and a love story.

“Henry V” also features some of the most famous speeches in Shakespeare’s works, with lines such as, “Once more unto the breach, dear friends,” and, “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”

A number of other performances featuring the hero king are planned, at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sept. 19, and 5 p.m. Sept. 13 and 20 at Applegate Park. Showings of the play are also planned at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17 at UC Merced’s Amphitheater.

It is common for show-goers to bring a blanket and have a picnic as the show goes on. Some food is also sold from a lunch cart at the park.

All shows of “Henry V” are free. For more, go to mercedshakespearefest.org.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Merced ShakespeareFest ‘unto the breach’ with ‘Henry V’."