Play review - “Henry VI Part 2” by William Shakespeare

This sequel deals with the War of the Roses, focusing on various people trying to knock off the king, including the Duke of York and Cade's Rebellion. The Queen comes into her own as does Suffolk; the idiot King remains a side character. There's less action that Part 1 (though there’s still a witch and some torture and plenty of grisly description) and more treachery. The Duke of York scenes sometimes feels like a trial run for Richard III,

A play of great scenes rather than a cohesive whole. eg conviction of Gloucester, the death of Suffolk by pirates, the killing of the clerk just because he can read and write, all of Cade's rebellion. But you're still conscious that this is a lead up to Richard III.