THEATER REVIEW : ‘Henry V’ Is a Winner Again in Local Staging : The monarch leads his ‘band of brothers’ to victory in California Shakespeare Company’s assured production.

Henry V, the king who successfully led England to victory over the French to end the Hundred Years War, became the subject of one of the most popular of Shakespeare’s historical dramas.

Following a recent film version by Kenneth Branagh, the play is returned to the stage through Dec. 18 by the California Shakespeare Company under the direction of William H. Fisher. While Shakespeare’s histories aren’t generally as popular as his comedies or tragedies, “Henry V” is highly accessible and a lot of fun.

The play might well have been written for the company’s tiny and barren Moorpark storefront stage: it begins with a character explaining that no theater could hold the spectacle of a war, and imploring the patrons to use their imaginations to fill in the missing scenery and battles.

Later, he promises the audience that if they imagine they’re being transported from England to France on a ship, they won’t get seasick. While packed with nobility and action, the play is not without humor.

A conversation between the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely provides what in the movie business is called “backstory,” explaining what has gone on before the play begins. The action begins with the French Marquis sending Henry a “present” designed to insult and provoke him, and (so to speak) the game’s afoot.

After dispatching a couple of would-be assassins, Henry and his troops sail for France to fight battles including the pivotal encounter at Agincourt, and Henry eventually collects booty including the hand of Princess Katharine.

All of that doubtless roused the English of Shakespeare’s time. But today, certain individual scenes probably most appeal to audiences--among them, the comic firebrand Pistol’s (Brendan Averatt) encounter with a drunken and fearful French soldier (Alan August); Princess Katharine (Elyse Ashton) attempting to learn English from her lady-in-waiting, Alice (Lisa Antablian); and the climactic encounter between Henry (Dean Erickson), who speaks no French, and Katharine, who speaks no English.

Erickson, whose Henry was a bit stiff on opening night (probably intentionally: the King had a lot on his royal mind), loosened up considerably and appealingly in his scenes with Katharine.

In addition to those performances already noted, Jeff Wallach was impressive as the comically smug Dauphin; Steven A. Carver amusing and helpful as the chorus who opens and narrates the play; and Lisa Antablian shining, again, as Mistress Quickly. Typically for the California Shakespeare Company, even most of the players whose time on stage was relatively brief gave entirely acceptable performances.

The costumes are fine, and--again as usual here--the lack of scenery only causes the actors and audience to concentrate on the language. Which, of course, is what Shakespeare is all about.

Details

* WHAT: “Henry V.”

* WHEN: Friday and Saturday evenings at 8; Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m. through Dec. 18.

* WHERE: California Shakespeare Company Theater, 6685 Princeton Ave., Moorpark.

* HOW MUCH: $12 general admission; $10 for students and seniors.

* FYI: For reservations--strongly recommended, due to the theater’s size--or further information, call 498-3354 or 373-9243.