Shakespeare’s great war pageant Henry V undergoes a modern industrial tint in this year's Houston Shakespeare Festival. The minimalist design from Kalliope Vlohos uses scaffolding repurposed for staircases, battlements, thrones. Banners and pennants drop down from the flies.

The English forces are dressed by Amber Stepanik in caps of red; the French in blue. All wear fatigues and combat boots, except the Princess of France in sensible slippers. Hints of glamour appear in Henry’s dazzlingly bright court robe or the marabou trim on the French Herald’s hat. The lighting by Clint Allen sidelights the proceedings, but then turns blood red in the background when the battles commence.

If slightly unpopulated by 12 actors playing multiple roles, all are individualized fairly well although th

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