The court is densely populated with soldiers, counselors, and courtiers, all standing silently, their heads bowed while their King prays. The solemn silence is broken, however, by disturbingly celebratory dancehall music. Two black-clad puppeteers then dance mockingly through either side of the audience and onto the stage. The puppeteers carry likenesses of Prince Hal and Falstaff, but neither Henry nor his court responds to them. The puppets cavort and carouse, held aloft on poles over the head of the King, drunkenly kissing each other and drinking from mugs.
Sound effects heighten the contrast between court and tavern.
King Henry and the rebels are earnest and antagonistic, and their scenes begin with the pulsing pound of martial drumbeats. Conversely, the bacchanalian Boar's Head scenes are accompanied by clamorous tavern music. For the pub scenes, the throne is removed, and the polished, heavy doors are swung fully open. The insides of the doors represent the greying and battered tavern walls, and the above gallery appears, well-stocked with several barrels of sack beneath the Boar's Head shingle. Steve Young depicts Sir John as a thunderously playful hedonist.