The Pear Theatre — Attraction in Mountain View

Attended Henry V at Pear Theatre last night, a play I had greatly looked forward to. Unfortunately, what I experienced was not a celebration of Shakespeare’s historical brilliance, but a disappointing display of ideological grandstanding that undermined both the work and its performers.

Before the play even began, we were subjected to a prelude in which the “director” (absent, of course) informed the troupe via message that he had fled to Canada and would not return due to what he described as the rise of fascism in the United States. This was presented without irony, and it set the tone for a politicized reinterpretation of what is, fundamentally, a historical and literary classic. To invoke the term “fascism” so flippantly is offensive and historically ignorant. How dare the production trivialize true authoritarianism by applying it to the current state of the United States? This was not bold — it was reckless, manipulative, and insulting to the audience’s intelligence.

Then came the performance itself. Henry V is a play rooted in English history, and Henry himself is not a fictional character — he was a real, male monarch. In this production, the role was played by a woman. Let me be clear: the actress is talented. Her stage presence is strong and her skill unquestionable. But this does not make her suitable for the role of a historical king simply by virtue of ideology. She did not portray a man; she portrayed a reimagined female Henry, and the result was jarring and ineffective.

Casting a woman in this role undercuts the historical integrity of the play and turns serious art into a performative exercise in identity politics. It does not elevate equality — it erases historical reality. This is not progress. This is revisionism masquerading as inclusivity, and it serves neither the play, the audience, nor the talented cast involved.

Pear Theatre used to be one of my favorite local theaters. This production, sadly, exemplifies the direction in which too many institutions are now heading: away from artistic integrity, and toward ideological spectacle. It is appalling to see great actors used as symbols instead of storytellers, and literature twisted for agendas that have nothing to do with the work itself.

I left not inspired, but disheartened. This was not Shakespeare. This was not art. This was...

There was plenty of parking. I bought the show tickets ahead of time and it was quick and easy to check-in with the attendant once I got there using my name only. I’ve seen two shows and they were both terrific! Concessions were happily served. There was candy and cocktails as well as sodas, wine and water. The chairs were fairly comfortable. The only complaint I have is that neither one of the shows started on time. The Chinese Lady started 16 minutes late and Love Letters started 8 minutes late. While the theater has good intentions of delaying the start time until most everyone that reserved tickets in advance have arrived, it makes scheduling things around a show harder. For example, I had to leave one early and before the ending because I had to pick up my son. However, if the show had started on time, then I would have been able to see it in its entirety. That said, I look forward to visiting the theater again. It truly...

It’s incredible how much things can change. I used to love this theater — in fact, I gave it a 5-star review six years ago. Unfortunately, my recent experience was a real disappointment.

While the actors were talented and delivered strong performances, they didn’t seem well-matched to the roles they were cast in, which made it harder to connect with the story. More importantly, I came to see a Shakespeare play, but was disheartened by the insertion of modern political messaging that felt out of place and unnecessarily polarizing.

Sadly, this no longer feels like the theater I once enjoyed. I won’t...