Ghostlight Players present ‘The Rise and Fall of Falstaff’ two weekends in December at Helmsley Hall

The Rise and Fall of Falstaff, a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2, will be presented by Ghostlight Players on Staten Island, New York. Gary Bradley is the artistic director of Ghostlight.

Hemsley Hall, 4 Arthur Kill Road, Richmond’s parish home for the Church of St. Andrew, will host performances of The Rise and Fall of Falstaff on Thursday, December 5 and Thursday, December 12.

The production, which was directed by Jack Dabdoub and Rina Sklar, highlights Sir John Falstaff, performed by Charles Sullivan, a Staten Island theatrical veteran, as one of the Bard’s most adored and nuanced characters.

The play examines Falstaff’s ascent as a clever, outrageous outlaw and his eventual decline as Prince Hal accepts his fate as King Henry V, all set against the backdrop of insurrection and the succession of royals.

The Rise and Fall of Falstaff, which combines Shakespeare’s classic language with freshly written sequences that explore Falstaff’s journey in depth, strikes a balance between humor and tragedy while providing a novel viewpoint on the connections that define each of us and the decisions that impact our lives.

Jeff Bodnar (Henry IV), Regan Sou (Earl of Westmoreland/Fang/Traveler 2), Eli Bradley Gottesman (Sir Walter Blunt/Entourage 2), Charles Sullivan (Sir John Falstaff), Gary Bradley (Prince Hal), Ariel Marcus (Hostess Quickly), Caroline Russell (Nell Poins), Jai Sada (Earl of Northumberland), Greg McGovern (Earl of Worcester/Pistol), and Bobby Orlando (Sir Henry Hotspur Percy) are among the actors who appear in The Rise and Fall of Falstaff.

In addition, there were Frank Fazio (Bardolph), Kayla Cariffe (Peto/Lady Mortimer), Frank Ninivaggi (Gadshill), Abby McNulty (Lady Percy/Davy), Mona Bruno (Hotspur’s Servant/Justice’s Servant/Attendant), Connor Burke (Lord Edmund Mortimer), Mitch Maglio (Owen Glendower), Christian Cespedes (Earl of Douglas), Emma Battista (Messenger), Frank Randall (Sir Richard Vernon/Page/Traveler 1), Phillip Cosentino (Snare/Entourage 1), Sam Chiodo (Doll Tearsheet), Richard T. Ryan (Justice Robert Shallow), and Peter Wilson (Master Silence).

Adrienne Ferretti designed the set, Amy Fine created the costumes, Nick Diaz created the sound, and Katie Scibelli served as the technical director and lighting designer. Assistant costume designer Nora Shvartsberg, set builder Craig Kwasnicki, fight choreographer Javan Zapata, assistant fight choreographers Christopher Leon and Christian Cespedes, and production stage manager Victoria Matthies.

The show starts at 8 p.m. Friday, December 6 and December 13, Saturday, December 7 and December 14, Sunday, December 8 at 3 p.m., and Thursday, December 5 and December 12.

Adult tickets cost $25, while student and senior tickets cost $22.

Ghostlight Players, Inc. Presents: The Rise and Fall of Falstaff – Event is where tickets can be purchased.

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