The room is absolutely jam-packed, and the waiters are politely trying to squeeze through the masses of people inadvertently blocking the only exit, whilst hurriedly shouting “Anon!” to the mischievous men that are deliberately all calling them at the same time from different parts of the room. Most of the crowd are standing, because there aren’t many seats. The room is well lit, and had it not been for the start of a rather intriguing conversation in the middle of the room, you wouldn’t have been able to hear yourself speak for all the shouting and guffawing. At this particular moment tough, there is a hush over the room. Every eye is fixed on Falstaff and Hal, as they began to converse.
“But tell me, Hal, art not thou horribly afeared?” bellows the prince’s chubby companion, “Thou being heir-apparent, could the world pick thee out three such enemies again as that fiend Douglas, that spirit Percy, and that devil Glendower? Art thou not horribly afraid? Doth not thy blood thrill at it?” he shrills. There is a sudden silence, as the crowd earnestly await his response. “Not a whit, i’faith” he shrugs nonchalantly, invoking raucous cheers from his captive audience. “I lack some of thy instinct”.
“Well, thou wilt be horribly chid tomorrow when thou comest to thy father.” Falstaff declares in an over-exaggeratedly pedantic manner. He thinks for a moment. “If thou love me, practice an answer.” The crowd, realising what he is getting at, shout words of encouragement to Hal, who puts is finger to his lips to quieten them. The muttering gradually subsides, and the prince begins to speak again. “Do thou stand for my father and examine me upon the particulars of my life”. There are cheers from the crowd and muttering aplenty. The two central characters, enjoying every moment of being the centre of attention, wait patiently for silence to be restored.
Though Falstaff obviously has a strong personal interest in the fateful interview then next day between Hal and his father, this is also a good excuse (for Shakespeare as well as Falstaff) to begin the long-promised extempore play. The mock reconciliation interview that follows is an outstanding example of comic parallelism and parody in the play.
“Shall I?” he asks incredulously. “Content! This chair shall be my state, this dagger my sceptre, and this cushion my crown…” “Thy state is taken for a joint-stool, thy golden sceptre for a leaden dagger, and thy precious rich crown for a pitiful bold crown” Hal interrupts scornfully, to a chorus of “Oooooooohs”.
These lines clearly show the difference between Falstaff and Hal. This is the voice of prompt, fanciful imagination, followed by the voice of down-to-earth realism. This part should be emphasised and perhaps over-exaggerated so that the audience realise its significance in the play.
“Well, an the fire of grace be not quite out of thee, now shalt thou be moved. Give me a cup of sack to make my eyes look red, that it may be thought I have wept, for I must speak in passion, and I will do it in King Cambyses’ vein.” Falstaff proclaims, managing to think of a fairly plausible reason for downing another cup of his favourite beverage.
