| by Nelson McKeown – Reprinted with her permission |
A Brief Summary of Shakespeare’s History Plays for the Production of Witchcraft In Their Lips (Youth). Although below is a chronological summary, the stories are intermixed throughout the play. For example, the story of Richard II and Henry VI, Part 1 can appear in the same scene. That is Power Montage. While we encourage you to read this brief summary. When you’re watching the play, don’t try to follow the story sequentially. Instead, allow yourself to be live in each moment and each moment only. Allow the women to share their stories as separate, but related accounts.
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RICHARD II
There is a king named Richard II, and he’s not a super great king. A lord named Henry Bolingbroke decides that he wants to be king instead. He takes over the kingdom and becomes Henry IV.
- [POWER MONTAGE]
Amuerele, a young lord still loyal to the old king, is not very happy about this. He commits treason against Henry IV by trying to get Richard II back on the throne. But his dad, the Duke of York (R2) catches him in the act and is very mad about it. He wants to turn him into the king and makes his son suffer for his crimes. But his wife, the Duchess of York (R2), begs her husband not to turn their son in.
- [THE DUCHESS OF YORK BEGS]
The Duke and Duchess go to King Henry IV, and the Duke tells him that their son has committed treason. The Duke thinks that the King should use justice and punish their son. But, the Duchess begs the king to spare their son, and King Henry eventually agrees.
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HENRY IV PARTS 1 AND 2
All you need to know is that Henry IV has a son. And, when he dies, his son becomes King Henry V.
HENRY V
Henry V decides to conquer France because that would bring lots of land, wealth, and glory to England.
- [WAR MONTAGE]
He and his soldiers march into France. And, the day before a big battle, Henry gives a very inspiring speech to his soldiers. Even though they’re hugely outnumbered, the English manage to conquer France.
- [WOOING MONTAGE]
Henry V wants to solidify his hold on France by marrying the French princess, KATHARINE. Henry and the French King agree to this, and Henry woos her. Even though, it has already been decided that the marriage is happening whether Katharine wants it or not.
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HENRY VI, PART 1
Henry V and Katharine have a son, HENRY VI. When Henry V dies, Henry VI becomes King, but he’s frail, shy, and passive. Also, he isn’t a very good king. The French begin to fight back against English rule.
- [JOAN’S INTRO]
The French aren’t doing so hot fighting against the English. Until the arrival of a young peasant girl, Joan of Arc. As the story goes, she marches into the camp of Charles, the Dauphin, or prince, or France. There, she tells them that she has been chosen by God to free France from English rule. Then, lead her country to freedom. At this point, she takes over leadership of the French army.
- [WAR MONTAGE]
Joan uses her words, wits, and military strategy to help the French start to win again. She fights against Talbot, a warrior leading the English forces. Later, Joan of Arc convinces a powerful English lord to return and fight on the French side. She tells him that since he was born in France, he should not fight against his homeland. Also, she says him the English were acting like jerks to him anyway.
- [POWER MONTAGE]
However, soon the English start to win against France, and things are looking pretty bleak for Joan. In desperation and fear, she tries to summon demons. But, not even demons can help her now, and the English capture her.
- [JOAN BURNING]
York and Warwick, two English lords, prepare to burn Joan at the stake. They say very mean things to her as she defends herself. As they take her away to be burned, she curses the English.
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HENRY VI, PARTS 2-3
Though the English beat Joan and her army, Henry VI is still a weak king. Eventually, the English lose all of the lands that they won in France. He even begins to lose his claim to the crown.
- [POWER MONTAGE]
A noble, the Duke of York (H6) decides that he wants to be king. He then begins to fight against Henry VI and his family. This persona is different from the Duke of York in Richard II. However, Henry VI has married a French noblewoman, Margaret, who is anything but weak. Henry VI does a poor job of defending himself against the Duke of York. Margaret, therefore, criticizes him for failing to protect their family. Moreover, she scrutinizes him for failing to make sure their son, Edward, who is next in line for the throne. Margaret raises an army herself to fight against the Duke of York, thus protecting her family.
- [MOLEHILL SCENE]
Margaret’s army captures the Duke of York. She then decides to make him pay for trying to take the crown away from her family. Afterward, she taunts him. He says some mean things about her including about women. Then, she and her followers kill him.
- [WAR MONTAGE]
However, the Duke of York has three sons who continue to fight against Margaret and Henry VI. Their names are Edward, Clarence, and Richard. They start to win against Margaret. She gives a speech to her soldiers trying to rally them to the cause even though they are losing. However, the three brothers win, and the oldest, Edward, becomes King Edward IV. The youngest brother, Richard, who is quite nasty and evil, kills Henry VI, and they banish Margaret to France. Richard also kills their son Edward, who is married to Warwick’s daughter Anne. Anne comes back later.
- [WOOING MONTAGE]
King Edward IV meets with a commoner woman, Elizabeth, who is asking for some land to support her sons. Edward, however, takes an interest in Elizabeth, but she’s not having any of it. Edward says that the only way that she can get her lands back is if she becomes his queen. So, having no other choice, Elizabeth agrees.
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RICHARD III
The Duke of York from the Henry VI plays had three sons, Edward, Clarence, and Richard. Richard is a pretty nasty fellow. And, even though he’s the youngest, he decides that he’s going to be king no matter what. Edward IV is king, but he gets sick and dies. His death leaves Elizabeth a widow caring for the two young sons they had together. Richard kills his other brother, Clarence, and throws the two young boys into prison at the Tower of London. Edward IV’s son ought to be the next king after his father.
- [WOOING MONTAGE]
Richard realizes that Anne, daughter of Warwick, has connections and family members. A Marriage to her would make him more powerful. There’s just one problem; Richard killed her husband Edward, son of Margaret and Henry VI. He also murdered Henry VI, who was her father-in-law. However, using all of his nasty wit and wiles, Richard manages to get her to marry him.
- [VISITING THE TOWER]
Elizabeth goes to visit her young sons, who have been put in the Tower by Richard III. She is accompanied by the Duchess of York (R3), mother of Edward IV, Clarence, and Richard III. Anne is with them as well. However, Richard III has ordered that the women can’t visit the young princes. Stanley informs them that Richard III has been crowned king. The women are all distraught at this news. Reason being, they already know that he’s an evil murderer.
- [THE WOMEN CURSE RICHARD]
Richard does a whole bunch of other nasty stuff. For example, he kills the two young princes including a bunch of other people. Richmond decides to save England from his tyrannical rule and brings an army in to defeat him. The night before the big battle, Richard has to deal with his conscience. It tells him all of the awful sins that he has committed and people he has killed.
NOTE: in the actual play, ghosts represent his conscience. But in our production, we portray them as women. They curse him and remind him of all the bad things he’s done. Later, they drag him away to be defeated by Richmond.
- [RICHMOND AND ELIZABETH]
Richmond wins the day, and finally stops the wars and bloodshed that have been happening for generations. He marries Princess Elizabeth, who is the daughter of Queen Elizabeth. In this way, he unites the families that have been fighting over the crown. Finally, their union brings peace to England at last.
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Performance
Each fall and spring, ImprovEd Shakespeare develops a new production for live performance. In honor of the traditional Renaissance traveling troupe, during a period of a few weeks, we present Kid-friendly plays at various venues around town. Our Players, between 3rd-11th grade, gear themselves with playful, as well as engaging interpretations of works by the Bard of Avon. Suitable for all ages, each performance runs for about an hour.
Furthermore, these shows are always FREE. However, we gladly accept Donations! Additionally, visit ImprovEd Shakespeare, Shakespeare for Kids by Kids on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. And don’t forget to click on our BLOG for the stories behind these videos.
