Quintessence Theatre Stages Epic Adaptation of Henry IV

Director Alex Burns' new "Rare Accidents" combines both parts of Henry IV with elements of Richard II, but the production struggles to balance the Bard's high drama with the low-brow comedy.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Quintessence Theatre Group's new production "Rare Accidents" is an ambitious adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV plays, combining both parts along with elements from Richard II. Director Alex Burns stages the epic historical drama with sweeping visuals and dramatic lighting, but the production struggles to capture the full range of tones in the original works, favoring the high-stakes political intrigue over the raucous tavern scenes.

Why it matters

Shakespeare's Henry IV plays are considered some of the Bard's greatest historical works, exploring themes of power, succession, and the relationship between fathers and sons. Quintessence's adaptation aims to bring these classic stories to a modern audience, but the director's stylistic choices don't always serve the material, potentially alienating viewers more interested in the plays' humor and character development than the grand political machinations.

The details

Burns' "Rare Accidents" combines Henry IV Parts I and II, along with some elements from Richard II, to tell the story of Henry Bolingbroke's usurpation of the throne and the subsequent complications that arise. The production features dramatic lighting and staging that evokes the feel of a historical epic, but the reviewer argues this approach doesn't always mesh well with the more comedic, character-driven elements of the original plays. The reviewer singles out the scenes set in Mistress Quickly's tavern, featuring the charismatic Falstaff, as the production's strongest moments, wishing Burns had leaned more into this tone rather than emphasizing the political intrigue.

  • The production opened on February 23, 2026.

The players

Alex Burns

The artistic director of Quintessence Theatre Group who adapted and directed the production of "Rare Accidents."

Phillip Brown

The actor who portrayed Henry IV in the production.

Tyler Bey

The actor who portrayed Prince Hal, Henry IV's son and heir, in the production.

Scott Greer

The actor who portrayed the charismatic Falstaff in the production.

Quintessence Theatre Group

The Philadelphia-based theater company that produced the "Rare Accidents" adaptation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Falstaff, who famously muses that 'the better part of valor is discretion,' might have laughed at the inherent pretension of John Burkland's flashy lighting, the insistence that these events largely involving rich jerks with titles are important.”

— The reviewer (broadstreetreview.com)

“I'm not as interested in the Game of Thrones and I, Claudius-style, 'heavy lies the head that wears the crown' machinations as Burns is, and I don't feel any emotional catharsis when Hal becomes Henry V. I know why he takes the crown. I don't know what actually motivates him to become king and embrace his true father, rejecting his old one in Falstaff.”

— The reviewer (broadstreetreview.com)

What’s next

The production of "Rare Accidents" is scheduled to run at Quintessence Theatre Group through March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

While Quintessence Theatre Group's ambitious adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV plays showcases the director's epic vision, the production struggles to balance the Bard's high drama with the low-brow comedy that is essential to the original works. The reviewer argues the production would have been better served by leaning more into the raucous tavern scenes and character-driven elements rather than emphasizing the political intrigue.