Watching Professor Robert Bartlett's final episode of "The Plantagenets", I was reminded of that day in December 2000 when I went to see all three parts of Shakespeare's Henry V1 in one day at the RSC's Swan Theatre (see posting 20th November 2010). At the very end of the final part are these words and the most memorable scene from any production I have ever seen.
They are spoken by Aidan McArdle as Richard of York. He is asked by King Henry to "kiss your princely nephew", Henry's baby son. The text instructs the following words to be spoken as an aside. Richard carries the baby to the front of the stage and pronounces to the audience "To say the truth, so Judas kissed his master and cried "All Hail", whereas he meant all harm". Well, we know what happens in Richard 111 and the princes in the Tower.
Henry is actually played by David Oyelowo, now a major film star. All three parts were brilliantly directed by Michael Boyd, and I guess he is responsible for this dramatic conclusion.
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