Sir Ian McKellen, 84, sports a jazzy Casablanca green coat and long beard as he celebrates West End show Player Kings’ rave reviews at after party

Entertainment
By William

By Connie Rusk for Ny Breaking

Published: | Updated:

Sir Ian McKellen showed off his sense of style at the Player Kings after-party in St Martin’s Lane in London on Thursday, after taking to the stage in the new West End play.

The actor, 84, took to the stage at the Noel Coward Theater earlier in the evening as John Falstaff in the production, directed by Robert Icke – and received rave reviews from four-star reviews for his ‘boundless energy’ and ‘showmanship’.

Sir Ian changed out of his stage costume and donned a green patterned Casablanca jacket from their 2022 collection.

He added a pop of color with aquamarine jeans and a white shirt and sported a bushy beard, having grown his facial hair for the role.

The legendary actor will star in a twelve-week run in the West End in the play which is a new version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, adapted by award-winning writer and director Robert.

Sir Ian McKellen showed off his sense of style at the Player Kings after-party at St Martin’s Lane in London on Thursday, after taking the stage in the new West End play

The actor, 84, took to the stage at the Noel Coward theater earlier in the evening as John Falstaff in the production, directed by Robert Icke.

The actor, 84, took to the stage at the Noel Coward theater earlier in the evening as John Falstaff in the production, directed by Robert Icke.

Sir Ian grew a beard for the role

The actor pictured on the right last year with his clean-shaven look

Sir Ian grew a beard for the role (pictured right last year with his clean-shaven look)

It brings together Shakespeare’s two history plays (Henry IV, parts 1 and 2) with the cast including Toheen Jimoh as Hal and Richard Coyle as King Henry IV.

As for why he took on the role, Sir Ian said that when he became a professional actor at Cambridge in 1959, he starred in John Barton’s bachelor production of Henry IV.

He said, “Derek Jacobi played Prince Hal and I was old Justice Shallow. The plays have been among my favorite Shakespeares ever since, although I have turned down offers to play John Falstaff over the years. Robert Icke’s ingenious adaptation was irresistible.’

Robert said: ‘It is a real honor to be working with one of our greatest Shakespearean actors, Ian McKellen, especially as he takes on one of the most iconic Shakespearean roles – and a role he has never previously had his hand at. datum.

‘It’s an exciting challenge to bring two Shakespeare plays together in one production, and I’m so excited to share this with audiences in the West End and across the country.’

Following the London run, Sir Ian, whose film credits include the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, will take The Player Kings to Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle

Earlier this week, Ian had to take drastic and quick action to ensure he got through London in time for his daily appearance on stage – on the back of a motorbike.

The legendary actor will star in a twelve-week run in the West End in the play which is a new version of Shakespeare's Henry IV, adapted by award-winning writer and director Robert

The legendary actor will star in a twelve-week run in the West End in the play which is a new version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, adapted by award-winning writer and director Robert

Sir Ian changed out of his stage costume and wore a green patterned Casablanca jacket from the designer's 2022 collection

Sir Ian changed out of his stage costume and wore a green patterned Casablanca jacket from the designer’s 2022 collection

He added a pop of color with aquamarine jeans and a white shirt and sported a bushy beard, having grown his facial hair for the role.

He added a pop of color with aquamarine jeans and a white shirt and sported a bushy beard, having grown his facial hair for the role.

Player Kings – what do the critics say?

The Telegraph

Judgement:

After his 80th birthday tour de force, his ‘age-blind’ Hamlet and his Mother Goose, I hesitate to say, “This is it – Ian McKellen’s swan song!”.

At the age of 84, there is clearly still life in the acting titan (and long may it continue). Yet there is an unmistakable aura of elegy and mortality about his largely delightful and moving turn as old Jack Falstaff, who, with his shaggy beard and wispy white hair, is inevitably reminiscent of Gandalf, but has a gigantic belly and little of the wisdom of the magician.

Time-out

Judgement:

Ian McKellen and Toheeb Jimoh are phenomenal as misguided Falstaff and dangerous Hal in Robert Icke’s elegant version of ‘Henry IV’

Yes, the presence of nearly 85-year-old stage and screen legend Ian McKellen tackling Shakespeare’s great character Sir John Falstaff is the big draw in “Player Kings.”

But Robert Icke’s three hour and forty minute modern version of the two ‘Henry IV’ plays doesn’t live up to its star and is unwavering in its view that this is the story of two deeply damaged men, grimly linked. are.

The guard

Judgement:

At just over three and a half hours, it is much shorter than the RSC’s 2014 twin productions starring Antony Sher as Falstaff (irrepressibly, magnificently jovial), which each ran almost three hours. The necessary reductions here mean that the pace is faster, but there is less development of the themes.

Certainly McKellen is worth seeing for his showmanship (when is he ever not?) and if this is part of a growing wave of ‘commercial Shakespeare’ shows led by big stars in the West End, it’s a attractive addition.

Evening standard

Judgement:

This is a four-star Falstaff of almost four hours – a shortened version of Henry IV parts I and II that is a luxurious treat for Ian McKellen and for the audience.

Our greatest living classical actor attacks the role of the ravenous, cowardly knight – one of the few male Shakespearean biggies he hasn’t previously ticked off – with relish and excellent comic timing.

iNews

Judgement:

With a running time of three and forty-five minutes – Icke’s tight adaptation in modern dress streamlines the two plays into one – Player Kings tests the endurance of both audience and actors, and while we lesser mortals may hesitate, McKellen’s boundless energy – not to mention line learning ability – is continually astonishing.

Following the London run, Sir Ian, whose film credits include the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, will take The Player Kings to Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle

Following the London run, Sir Ian, whose film credits include the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, will take The Player Kings to Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle

As for why he took on the role, Sir Ian said that when he became a professional actor at Cambridge in 1959, he starred in John Barton's bachelor production of Henry IV.

As for why he took on the role, Sir Ian said that when he became a professional actor at Cambridge in 1959, he starred in John Barton’s bachelor production of Henry IV.

It brings together Shakespeare's two history plays (Henry IV, parts 1 and 2) with the cast including Toheen Jimoh as Hal and Richard Coyle as King Henry IV

It brings together Shakespeare’s two history plays (Henry IV, parts 1 and 2) with the cast including Toheen Jimoh as Hal and Richard Coyle as King Henry IV

One source said: ‘Sir Ian tried to get picked up by a car belonging to theater bosses but it took so long to get through the city it was pointless.

‘One night it took him 90 minutes to get from home. Then it was decided that a motorcycle was the only option.”

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