Swimming_VVG Across_II the_AT Rough_JJ Sea_NNL1 of_IO History_NP1 Sing_VV0 the_AT news_NN1 ,_, o_ZZ1 balladeers_NN2 ._. 
Richard_NP1 Maxwell_NP1 has_VHZ put_VVN on_II chain_NN1 mail_NN1 again_RT ,_, boldly_RR returning_VVG to_II the_AT 15th-century_JJ battlefield_NN1 where_CS once_RR he_PPHS1 lay_VVD trounced_VVN and_CC bleeding_JJ ._. 
Now_RT his_APPGE banner_NN1 ,_, proud_JJ and_CC tattered_JJ ,_, flies_VVZ there_RL under_II the_AT name_NN1 of_IO "_" People_NN Without_IW History_NN1 ,_, "_" his_APPGE new_JJ play_NN1 at_II the_AT Performing_NN1 Garage_NN1 in_II SoHo_NP1 ._. 
A_AT1 land_NN1 that_CST no_PN121 one_PN122 expected_VVD Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 to_TO claim_VVI is_VBZ his_PPGE ._. 
Praises_NN2 be_VBI for_IF quixotic_JJ playwrights_NN2 ._. 
The_AT border_NN1 of_IO Wales_NP1 and_CC England_NP1 six_MC centuries_NNT2 ago_RA is_VBZ the_AT last_MD place_VV0 you_PPY would_VM think_VVI Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 ,_, the_AT brilliant_JJ theatrical_JJ auteur_NN1 ,_, would_VM want_VVI to_TO hang_VVI out_RP ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ the_AT setting_NN1 for_IF the_AT Battle_NN1 of_IO Shrewsbury_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 event_NN1 at_II the_AT center_NN1 of_IO Shakespeare_NP1 's_GE "_" Henry_NP1 IV_MC ,_, Part_NN1 I_ZZ1 ,_, "_" which_DDQ Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 infamously_RR directed_VVN at_II the_AT Brooklyn_NP1 Academy_NN1 of_IO Music_NN1 five_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ._. 
By_II then_RT Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 had_VHD established_VVN himself_PPX1 as_CSA one_MC1 of_IO the_AT few_DA2 uncompromisingly_RR original_JJ new_JJ voices_NN2 in_II American_JJ theater_NN1 ,_, with_IW short_JJ ,_, monotonal_JJ plays_NN2 that_CST found_VVD the_AT poetry_NN1 in_II everyday_JJ banality_NN1 and_CC the_AT numbness_NN1 in_II sensational_JJ violence_NN1 ._. 
With_IW "_" Henry_NP1 IV_MC "_" Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 plied_VVD his_APPGE usual_JJ tools_NN2 --_JJ homemade_JJ props_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 partly_RR amateur_JJ cast_NN1 ,_, affectless_JJ line_NN1 readings_NN2 --_NN1 in_II the_AT hopes_NN2 of_IO making_VVG a_AT1 molehill_NN1 out_II21 of_II22 a_AT1 mountain_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB Shakespeare_NP1 's_GE mellifluousness_NN1 and_CC grandeur_NN1 mocked_VVN and_CC resisted_VVN Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 's_GE attack_NN1 ._. 
So_RR did_VDD most_DAT theatergoers_NN2 ._. 
Yet_RR "_" Henry_NP1 IV_MC "_" evidently_RR stirred_VVD Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 's_GE imagination_NN1 to_II fruitful_JJ effect_NN1 ._. 
"_" People_NN Without_IW History_NN1 ,_, "_" written_VVN by_II Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 and_CC directed_VVN by_II Brian_NP1 Mendes_NP1 ,_, considers_VVZ the_AT aftermath_NN1 of_IO the_AT Battle_NN1 of_IO Shrewsbury_NP1 ,_, in_II which_DDQ the_AT forces_NN2 of_IO the_AT Lancastrian_JJ king_NN1 ,_, Henry_NP1 ,_, defeated_VVD a_AT1 rebel_NN1 army_NN1 ._. 
And_CC --_NN1 dare_VV0 I_PPIS1 say_VVI it_PPH1 ?_? --_NN1 I_PPIS1 have_VH0 the_AT feeling_NN1 that_CST this_DD1 work_NN1 comes_VVZ closer_JJR than_CSN Shakespeare_NP1 and_CC certainly_RR closer_RRR than_CSN any_DD period_NN1 costume_NN1 movie_NN1 ,_, in_II making_VVG 21st-century_JJ audiences_NN2 feel_VV0 what_DDQ it_PPH1 must_VM have_VHI been_VBN like_JJ to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 foot_NN1 soldier_NN1 in_II the_AT early_JJ 15th_MD century_NNT1 ._. 
Not_XX that_CST Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 is_VBZ a_AT1 realist_NN1 ,_, in_II any_DD conventional_JJ sense_NN1 ._. 
Though_CS he_PPHS1 is_VBZ less_RGR averse_JJ to_II illusion-creating_JJ stagecraft_NN1 than_CSN he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ in_II his_APPGE early_JJ days_NNT2 of_IO stark_JJ naked_JJ sets_NN2 ,_, this_DD1 show_NN1 's_GE look_NN1 retains_VVZ his_APPGE signature_NN1 do-it-yourself_NN1 crudeness_NN1 ._. 
The_AT set_NN1 ,_, designed_VVN by_II Lara_NP1 Furniss_NP1 ,_, is_VBZ made_VVN up_RP of_IO three_MC movable_JJ screens_NN2 onto_II which_DDQ are_VBR projected_JJ images_NN2 of_IO forest_NN1 and_CC the_AT facade_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 thatched_JJ building_NN1 ._. 
(_( Joseph_NP1 Silovsky_NP1 is_VBZ the_AT technical_JJ director_NN1 ._. )_) 
The_AT warriors_NN2 here_RL mostly_RR wear_VV0 long_JJ johns_NN2 ,_, accessorized_VVD with_IW the_AT odd_JJ piece_NN1 of_IO armor_NN1 or_CC chain_NN1 mail_NN1 ._. 
To_TO convey_VVI movement_NN1 they_PPHS2 march_VV0 in_II place_NN1 ,_, looking_VVG zonked_VVD by_II fatigue_NN1 and_CC boredom_NN1 ._. 
(_( "_" I_PPIS1 do_VD0 n't_XX mind_VVI marching_NN1 ,_, "_" one_MC1 of_IO them_PPHO2 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 turns_VVZ my_APPGE brain_NN1 off_RP ._. "_" )_) 
The_AT lone_JJ woman_NN1 among_II them_PPHO2 (_( Tory_JJ Vasquez_NP1 )_) carries_VVZ a_AT1 bag_NN1 filled_VVN with_IW weeds_NN2 --_NN1 and_CC one_MC1 very_RG ratty_JJ piece_NN1 of_IO fur_NN1 ,_, meant_VVD to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 dead_JJ animal_NN1 --_NN1 in_II way_NN1 of_IO provisions_NN2 ._. 
When_CS these_DD2 people_NN speak_VV0 --_JJ and_CC they_PPHS2 do_VD0 at_RR21 length_RR22 ,_, often_RR in_II lyrical_JJ monologues_NN2 of_IO unexpected_JJ beauty_NN1 --_NN1 it_PPH1 is_VBZ with_IW the_AT semicatatonic_JJ air_NN1 of_IO someone_PN1 waking_VVG from_II a_AT1 long_JJ sleep_NN1 ,_, grasping_VVG for_IF fragments_NN2 of_IO vanished_JJ dreams_NN2 ._. 
(_( Their_APPGE language_NN1 ,_, for_IF the_AT record_NN1 ,_, is_VBZ not_XX Chaucerian_JJ or_CC Elizabethan_NN1 ,_, but_CCB Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 's_GE own_DA cadenced_JJ ,_, fragmented_JJ brand_NN1 of_IO contemporary_JJ American_JJ English_NN1 ._. )_) 
Within_II the_AT play_NN1 's_GE 90_MC minutes_NNT2 or_CC so_RR ,_, some_DD characters_NN2 are_VBR taken_VVN prisoner_NN1 ,_, escape_NN1 and_CC are_VBR taken_VVN prisoner_NN1 again_RT ._. 
There_EX are_VBR struggles_NN2 among_II them_PPHO2 ,_, including_II the_AT breeching_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 runaway_JJ soldier_NN1 ,_, that_CST are_VBR too_RG half-hearted_JJ to_TO be_VBI described_VVN as_II fights_NN2 ._. 
Alice_NP1 ,_, Ms._NNB Vasquez_NP1 's_GE character_NN1 ,_, is_VBZ discussed_VVN both_RR as_II an_AT1 object_NN1 of_IO idealized_JJ veneration_NN1 and_CC potential_JJ rape_NN1 in_II ways_NN2 that_CST comment_VV0 pungently_RR on_II the_AT perception_NN1 of_IO women_NN2 at_II that_DD1 time_NNT1 ._. 
On_II occasion_NN1 period_NN1 ballads_NN2 are_VBR sung_VVN (_( Tom_NP1 King_NP1 oversees_VVZ the_AT music_NN1 )_) ,_, bluntly_JJ and_CC hauntingly_RR ,_, to_II the_AT accompaniment_NN1 of_IO horn_NN1 and_CC saxophone_NN1 ._. 
Under_II the_AT direction_NN1 of_IO Mr._NNB Mendes_NP1 the_AT performers_NN2 --_NN1 who_PNQS include_VV0 Rafael_NP1 Sanchez_NP1 ,_, Bob_NP1 Feldman_NP1 ,_, Mr._NNB King_NP1 ,_, Alex_NP1 Delinois_NP1 ,_, Pete_NP1 Simpson_NP1 and_CC the_AT Maxwell_NP1 stalwart_JJ Jim_NP1 Fletcher_NP1 --_NN1 deliver_VV0 their_APPGE lines_NN2 less_RGR woodenly_RR and_CC self-consciously_RR than_CSN is_VBZ usually_RR the_AT case_NN1 in_II a_AT1 Maxwell_NP1 play_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB a_AT1 leaden_JJ weariness_NN1 hangs_VVZ over_II them_PPHO2 ,_, inhibiting_VVG expansive_JJ gestures_NN2 and_CC excited_JJ speech_NN1 ._. 
Variations_NN2 in_II inflection_NN1 are_VBR more_RRR a_AT1 matter_NN1 of_IO adjustment_NN1 in_II volume_NN1 than_CSN changes_NN2 in_II tone_NN1 ._. 
Which_DDQ is_VBZ very_RG well_JJ how_RRQ you_PPY might_VM appear_VVI and_CC sound_VVI too_RR ,_, if_CS you_PPY had_VHD been_VBN trudging_VVG for_IF days_NNT2 through_II unfamiliar_JJ forest_NN1 ,_, hungry_JJ and_CC lost_VVD ,_, after_II participating_VVG in_II a_AT1 battle_NN1 that_CST you_PPY do_VD0 n't_XX know_VVI whether_CSW you_PPY 've_VH0 won_VVN or_CC lost_VVD ._. 
Alice_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS witnessed_VVD the_AT conflict_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ she_PPHS1 ca_VM n't_XX remember_VVI what_DDQ happened_VVD ._. 
"_" Battle_VV0 !_! 
Flash_VV0 !_! 
Blam_FU !_! 
Blam_FU !_! 
If_CS there_EX was_VBDZ strategy_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 could_VM n't_XX suss_VVI it_PPH1 ._. "_" 
Alice_NP1 's_GE presence_NN1 among_II the_AT men_NN2 inspires_VVZ fumbling_VVG memories_NN2 of_IO sexual_JJ encounters_NN2 ._. 
"_" Soft_JJ ,_, warm_JJ ,_, smooth_JJ ,_, smooth_JJ ,_, and_CC warm_JJ ,_, soft_JJ ,_, warm_JJ ,_, smooth_JJ ,_, "_" says_VVZ a_AT1 prisoner_NN1 named_VVD Sheriff_NN1 (_( Mr._NNB Delinois_NP1 )_) ,_, reminding_VVG us_PPIO2 that_CST some_DD of_IO these_DD2 guys_NN2 have_VH0 n't_XX spoken_VVN in_II a_AT1 long_JJ time_NNT1 ._. 
And_CC throughout_II the_AT play_NN1 ,_, there_EX are_VBR monologues_NN2 and_CC dialogues_NN2 in_II which_DDQ people_NN falteringly_RR try_VV0 to_TO recollect_VVI long-ago_JJ moments_NN2 and_CC sensations_NN2 that_CST like_II the_AT wars_NN2 they_PPHS2 fought_VVD ,_, refuse_VV0 to_TO come_VVI into_II fixed_JJ focus_NN1 ._. 
"_" All_DB the_AT battles_NN2 ,_, "_" says_VVZ one_MC1 Englishman_NN1 (_( the_AT vulpine_JJ Mr._NNB Simpson_NP1 )_) ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 want_VV0 to_TO go_VVI through_II the_AT names_NN2 of_IO those_DD2 fallen_VVN men_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 remember_VV0 them_PPHO2 ._. 
Come_VV0 on_RP ._. 
Remember_VV0 ._. "_" 
Finally_RR he_PPHS1 screams_VVZ (_( a_AT1 bona_JJ21 fide_JJ22 "_" aargh_UH "_" )_) in_II frustration_NN1 ;_; he_PPHS1 can_VM not_XX remember_VVI ._. 
As_CSA with_IW his_APPGE recent_JJ (_( and_CC also_RR excellent_JJ )_) "_" Ode_NN1 to_II the_AT Man_NN1 Who_PNQS Kneels_VVZ ,_, "_" an_AT1 excavation_NN1 of_IO the_AT mythology_NN1 of_IO American_JJ pioneers_NN2 and_CC cowboys_NN2 ,_, Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 has_VHZ clearly_RR done_VDN his_APPGE research_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB he_PPHS1 has_VHZ fluently_RR translated_VVN accounts_NN2 of_IO distant_JJ conflicts_NN2 into_II his_APPGE own_DA transfixing_NN1 and_CC ultimately_RR very_RG moving_JJ form_NN1 of_IO existential_JJ theater_NN1 ,_, in_II which_DDQ life_NN1 is_VBZ less_RRR a_AT1 chain_NN1 of_IO signal_NN1 events_NN2 than_CSN a_AT1 steady_JJ ,_, relentless_JJ flow_NN1 that_CST wears_VVZ you_PPY down_RP but_CCB lets_VVZ you_PPY keep_VVI moving_VVG until_CS you_PPY stop_VV0 for_RR21 good_RR22 ._. 
"_" The_AT ground_NN1 rolls_NN2 by_II ,_, "_" Alice_NP1 says_VVZ in_II the_AT play_NN1 's_GE opening_NN1 monologue_NN1 ._. 
"_" There_EX is_VBZ nothing_PN1 so_RR ,_, but_CCB the_AT contour_NN1 and_CC foot_NN1 adjusting_VVG and_CC then_RT ,_, step_VV0 again_RT ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ work_NN1 ,_, and_CC you_PPY get_VV0 somewhere_RL before_CS you_PPY know_VV0 it_PPH1 ._. "_" 
That_DD1 's_VBZ as_RG good_JJ a_AT1 definition_NN1 of_IO life_NN1 as_CSA any_DD ,_, when_CS you_PPY come_VV0 down_RP to_II it_PPH1 ._. 
With_IW a_AT1 profound_JJ empathy_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ all_DB his_APPGE own_DA Mr._NNB Maxwell_NP1 honors_VVZ those_DD2 who_PNQS can_VM say_VVI ,_, as_CSA one_MC1 of_IO his_APPGE old_JJ soldiers_NN2 does_VDZ ,_, "_" Anyway_RR ,_, we_PPIS2 dudes_NN2 are_VBR still_RR walking_VVG ._. "_" 
