Henry IV

The title Henry IV can refer to one of two theatrical works:

Henry IV by William Shakespeare

Henry IV is the collective title of a set of two history plays by William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)[1], namely: 'Henry IV, Part I and Henry IV, Part II'.

While Henry IV is usually used as a combined title, it is on occasion also found as the title for one of the plays.

See also individual entries under : Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2

Translations and Adaptations

Translated into Afrikaans as Hendrik IV

Translated into Setswana as Kgosi Henry wa Bone (1952) by [[M.O.M. Seboni].

Translated into Northern Sotho as Kgosi Henri IV (1973) by N.C. Phatudi

A number of operas by this name have been written over the years, most of them largely based on The Merry Wives of Windsor, with material from Shakespeare's Henry IV, (Parts I and II) added. Composers and librettists include Antonio Salieri and Carlo Prospero Defranceschi (1799); Michael William Balfe and S. Manfredo Maggione (1838); and Giuseppe Verdi and Arrigo Boito (1893). A "symphonic study" called Falstaff was also written by Edward Elgar in 1913.

Adapted as a stage play called Falstaff by Ian Ferguson in 1976, a combination of the "Falstaff" [2] scenes from Shakespeare’s plays Henry IV (parts 1 and 2) and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Performances

1853: Selections from what is referred to as Henry IV were performed in The Lyceum by the Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society on 22 October, followed by The Spare Bed (Fox Cooper), An Unwarrantable Intrusion ( Morton). This could have been selections from either one or both the Henry IV plays.

1976: Falstaff (Shakespeare/Ferguson) performed by PACT (See details under Falstaff)

1984: Falstaff (Shakespeare/Ferguson) performed by CAPAB (See details under Falstaff)