KING JOHN, an early history, is the story of a troubled monach who leads his country into a disastrous war, then faces a rebellion at home. Filled with gloriusly vivid characters ("The Bastard" was written for a young Richard Burbage), it is a feast for actors and audiences. It is also an excoriating war play with some of Shakespeare's finest observations on war and what it does to people, the politics of war, and religious fanaticism. The profoundly moving depiction of a parent's grief has lead some scholars to believe that Shakespeare could only have written the play after the death of his little son, Hamnet.

The production ran from April 30-May 4 2003 at The Sargent Theatre.