Henry IV Parts I & II is at the Theatre Royal Bath until Saturday, November 8. Visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk

THERE’S no way round it – Henry IV isn’t the biggest draw of all Shakespeare’s history plays, lacking as it does the lyricism of Richard II, the dark menace of Richard III or the famous heroism of Henry V.

In fact, fearful of antagonising Elizabeth I by writing too much about the Henry IV, the usurper king (she had thrown an historian in the Tower for just that), he instead focused his drama on the people surrounding the monarch.

Notably, of course, this includes the legendary Falstaff, self-obsessed, swaggering and scurrilous, and brought into larger than life magnificence by the equally legendary Antony Sher.

The plot tells of young Prince Hal’s preparation to succeed his father on the throne and his ultimate rejection of his old pal, Falstaff, whose criminal and bawdy ways are unsuitable companionship for the new head of state.

Directed by Gregory Doran, the RSC’s artistic director, the production is lively, stately and perfectly polished.

Sher’s magnetism as Falstaff is not to be missed, with lively performances from Oliver Ford Davies as Justice Shallow, Paola Dionisotti as Mistress Quickly and Nia Gwynne as Doll Tearsheet.

Last but not least, Antony Byrne as Pistol adds a zany quality reminiscent of Kramer in Seinfeld, and while many would question how funny Shakespeare actually is, there were plenty of genuinely laugh out loud moments.