“Shakespeare wrote plays that people enjoyed and wanted to watch; in short, he wrote plays that were entertaining. And that’s what happened Wednesday night when Henry V, directed by Stephen Brown-Fried, opened at UNC School of the Arts.... This production does [Shakespeare] proud. Just as Shakespeare put flesh on history, Brown-Fried and his band of actors have put flesh on Shakespeare... It may be a while before such an extravagant feast of language and ideas is set before us, and never again in these particularly able and vital hands, bodies and lips.”

“Contrary to standard academic conditioning, performing Shakespeare is far from formulaic. The vitality of the text craves originality and new approach, which sadly, far too many theatre-makers seem timid to take on. UNC School of the Arts’ satirical production of KING HENRY V demolishes tiresome theatrical norms, and restores Shakespeare back to his original intent... Guest director Stephen Brown-Fried is to be applauded for executing such a refreshing take on the Shakespearean play. The primary plight of performing Shakespeare for modern audiences is the question of accessibility. Here, with this current depiction, as the production slowly evolved into itself, the audience was able to connect with each of the characters organically. Brown-Fried also employed satire and creative staging to keep all the viewers on their toes. With nuances such as deconstructing music stands into swords and shields, incorporating FaceTime for the characters to communicate with cell phones and projection screens, and juxtaposing contemporary attire with fanciful costumes and wigs, Shakespeare was brought into the 21st century. In UNC School of the Arts’ KING HENRY V, nothing was predictable, yet everything made perfect sense.”