Washington Post - Somewhat Recommended
"...The sense of squandered opportunity suffuses director Rosa Joshi's debut production for Folger, and it's a shame, because the talents of that premier Shakespearean, Edward Gero, are stranded on a middling evening. His Falstaff, a Rabelaisian mountain of self-regard and corruption, should be anchored in a potent tale of casting aside foolishness in favor of duty. Do we credit for a moment this impassive Hal taking pleasure in his escapades with Gero's transgressive Sir John? Or that Hal grasps in his doleful reply in the tavern scene - "I do, I will" - that he is to be the architect of Falstaff's downfall?"
DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended
"...1 Henry IV at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre, directed by Rosa Joshi, is perfectly cast and beautifully executed. Edward Gero is a superb Falstaff, and he is surrounded by gifted actors and strikingly vivid production values. 1 Henry IV was the major text for Orson Welles' 1965 film, "Chimes at Midnight." Gus Van Sant's 1991 movie, "My Own Private Idaho," with Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix was also loosely based on the play."
MetroWeekly - Highly Recommended
"...Finally, a Falstaff we can get behind. Shakespeare's drunken, lovable rogue-of-a-certain-age is something of a star vehicle in the historical drama Henry IV, giving center stage to the greying headliner still in his (or her) prime. It's also a role that tends to bring out the scenery-chewing, with many playing it rather too large to the lowest common denominator (at least the lowest you get in a theater). But if most break a few rules (and maybe some wind), unless you love bawdy for bawdy's sake, they don't often move the needle."
Talkin Broadway - Recommended
"...The production of William Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV now at the Folger Theatre in Washington has a fine King Henry in Peter Crook and a charismatic Prince Hal in Avery Whitted, but when Edward Gero is onstage as a wild, roistering Falstaff, no one in the audience is paying much attention to anyone else."
MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended
"...With modern elements and high energy, Joshi's "1 Henry IV" is a must-see for Shakespeare fans, and a welcome introduction to the Bard's histories for those new to them."
Theatre Bloom - Somewhat Recommended
"...Shakespeare's tale of the roles and duties of fathers and sons is brought to life with energy and thoughtfulness in director Rosa Joshi's 1 Henry IV at the Folger Theater. The second installment of the Henriad tetralogy, the play deftly balances the personal and political consequences of the deposition of Richard II."
DCTheatreScene - Recommended
"...Henry IV, Part 1 is the best of the Shakespearean histories, because it is a redemption story - not of Prince Hal (Avery Whitted), who rose from his Eastcheap debauchery to become England's greatest king, but of his father, the feral Henry IV (Peter Crook), who, in learning to forgive his son, saved his own life, and his kingdom."
BroadwayWorld - Recommended
"...The biggest standout moment, though, was the battle itself. Staging a battle is tricky, and finding an original or compelling angle can be difficult. And yet, Toppo (who, in addition to acting, also serves as the show's Fight Choreographer) and Alice Gosti (the production's Movement Director and Choreographer) delivered not only fabulous sword fights, but an absolutely stunning visual in the form of what it feels understating to call a dance battle. The two sides faced off on the stage with dance-like movements, but the intensity and synchronization was so sharp that it perfectly portrayed the intensity of a battle."
