William Shakespeare's "Henry V" is that most fleet of foot in staging, acting and story. From the outset, we're told of the enormity of the task to present such an epic tale, based in history, and played out in the hearts of its protagonists, the mind of its playwright and the imagination of its theater-goers.

The Chorus, really an omnipotent narrator, could be no more formidable a choice that that of Greg Wood, a stalwart of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, where "Henry V" continues through Aug. 2, Main Stage, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, Center Valley.

Wood sets the stage, literally and figuratively, his eyes dancing with the splendor of the story, his face set flint-like with earnest import, his presence downstage, drawing us in, placing before all a tabula rasa on a spare set by Scenic Designer Bob Phillips. "Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts," Wood exhorts.

He need not worry. There is nary an imperfection in the rock-solid, astounding, thoughtful production directed by Matt Pfeiffer, who tells the story in tableaus, with original music (splendid choral, acoustic and nary a microphone on the actors) by Composer-Sound Designer-Music Director Alex J. Bechtel, and shrouded in fog, at first, and then starkly lit by Lighting Designer Thom Weaver. The actors rise to the battle scenes, so much so you fear for their lives, thanks to Fight Director J. Alex Cordaro.

Pfeiffer stages the play as presentational, with the actors in direct address or stance. He allows, and provides, even insists upon, many nice moments for the audience. So, too, with Bechtel's score (and that is in the best cinematic sense), which brings a Pink Floyd modernity, Moody Blues cosmology and Beatlesque enthusiasm to the proceedings.

Language wins the day, as, for example, "How you awaken our sleeping sword of war," spoken by King Henry V (Zack Robidas, forthright yet with calm authority). Robidas balances the role's (and the play's) duality, that of "I think the king is but a man," his witness of "poisoned flattery," his understanding that as king (or any leader, for that matter) "We must bear all" in terms of the responsibilities of the office, yet, as in his St. Crispin's Day speech, must rally to battle "we few, we happy few, we band of brothers."

Actors in supporting roles also regale in the rhapsody of the Shakespearean turn of the phrase: the Duke of Exeter (Wayne S. Turney, bringing just the right sense of gravity): "a crushed necessity," and the Archbishop of Canterbury (Anthony Lawton, a magnificence figure in wonderful raiments by Costume Designer Sam Fleming): "Therefore does heaven divide."

Against the somber deliberations of war are balanced the comic figures Pistol (William Zielinski), Nym (Jacob Dresch) and Bardolph (Carl N. Wallnau, having a jolly old time), at once witty, bawdy and rollicking.

The cast includes Akeem Davis (Duke of Bedford), Dan Hodge (Earl of Cambridge), David Scheffler (Earl of Westmoreland) and Brian McCann (Duke of Orleans). The ensemble is Valerie Berger, Phoenix Best, Patrick Golebiowski and Diane McMichael.

"Henry V" is brilliantly staged and directed by Pfeiffer, who presents Shakespeare's "crowns and coronets" not as an either-or proposition, but rather an all-of-the-above.

And yet the play's meaning is a cypher. Is it a jingoistic, self-righteous, call to arms? Is it an agitprop, polemic, anti-war play? "Henry V" remains a work on which we project our own emotions, politics and beliefs amidst times of peace and war, depending on which side of the battle you're drawn. The world, as we all know, is not your oyster.

Pfeiffer relieves the seriousness with a delicate interpretation of the wedding scene. There's charming rapport between Robidas and Marnie Schulenburg (Katherine), and hilarious looks askance by her assistant (Jane Ridley).

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival production builds upon Henry's own words: "that God fought for us," concluding with a familiar Shaker hymn. Sometimes, in some wars, God is on somebody's side.

Tickets: pashakespeare.org, 610-282-WILL (9455)