Filmed in high definition, the pace, polish, gorgeous elizabethan costumes and the rollicking performances dazzled the audience. Wise to the old rogues tricks, the women turn the tables on him with a series of humiliating assignations and a very damp, extremely smelly laundry basket. The plot is certainly thin, said one grouchylooking woman as she left folger shakespeare theatres new staging of the bards merry wives of windsor. Folger theatre takes leave of capitol hill with an. The merry wives of windsor 2011 2012 season issue 6 celebrating 25 years of classical theatre photo of craig wallace, david sabin and derek smith in stcs production of henry iv, parts 1 and 2 1994by carol pratt. William shakespeare was born in april 1564 in the town of stratforduponavon, on englands avon river. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the merry wives of windsor. The couple had three childrenan older daughter susanna and twins, judith and hamnet. Shakespeares hilarious and brilliantly constructed farce, the merry wives of windsor, delighted audiences at the globe theatre in london.
Eventually the wives tell their husbands about the series of jokes they have played on falstaff, and. It depends on lightningquick timing between the actors and the carefully choreographed actions. Oregon shakespeare festival the merry wives of windsor. All photos the geoffrey whitworth theatre unless otherwise stated. This page describes the production history of the stratford festival. Shakespeare didnt name his play the bitter wives of windsor or the vengeful wives of windsor. Children of windsor mute roles are evanss students, whom he trains to play fairies in the final prank on falstaff. The merry wives of windsor is the only play of shakespeares that is set in elizabethan england. With the help of their husbands and friends, the wives play one last trick in the woods to put falstaffs. The merry wives and the bawdy boys, part threewith one last lingering leer at. The merry wives of windsor is an allfemale folk band based in pasadena, california. The windsor of the plays title is a reference to the town of windsor, also the location of windsor castle, in berkshire, england. The merry wives of windsor act 4, scene 1 translation.
Thats my son for gods sake, retorted jane, shocked at her friends halfwhispered comment. Bbc television shakespeares the merry wives of windsor is directed by david hugh jones and stars richard. Shakespeare in the parks montana shakespeare in the parks. Actually understand the merry wives of windsor act 4, scene 1. Duels, deceit, and attempted seduction alight in this comedy featuring the beloved sir john falstaff.
The merry wives of windsor open source shakespeare. A publication of the shakespeare theatre company asides. Watch as he tries to fool two clever women and has the tables turned on him instead. Imagining that mistress ford and mistress page have each fallen for him, the fat knight sir john falstaff decides to seduce them both, as much for their husbands money as for their personal charms. Merry wives of windsor will be directed by guest director marti lyons and will bring a night of laughs to our audiences. The merry wives of windsor, shakespeares only thoroughly english comedy, created an archetypal literary figure in the shape of the devious, irrepressible john falstaff. The merry wives of windsor is a comedy by william shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597.
Lust is in the air 32 2011 continue reading the merry wives of windsor. Falstaff decides to fix his financial woe by seducing the wives of two wealthy merchants. There are some great performances including one morethanable understudy this weekend, a couple of fetching costumes, and some interchanges that pay off nicely. Special performances find opencaptioned performances, preshow events, and additional related programs. Even though shakespeare explores some potentially weighty themes like jealousy and love, the play is lighthearted. Portland state university opera always delivers a highquality product northwest reverb. Merry wives of windsor now on your favorite device. Meanwhile, three suitors seek the hand of anne page, mistress pages daughter. The merry wives of windsor 1600 scenes 23 total complete text act i. But the friend she was talking to was still laughing, which is kind of the point. The stratford festival formerly known as the stratford shakespearean festival, the stratford festival of canada and the stratford shakepeare festival is a summerlong celebration of theatre held each year in stratford, ontario. Though nominally set in the reign of henry iv, the play makes no pretence to exist outside contemporary elizabethan era.
The daughter, anne page, has chosen the last one and the others are. The opener is the merry wives of windsor, a light comedy even if not one of shakespeares best. Watch stratford festival actors thank the countrys front. Falstaff in henry iv, parts 1 and 2 2004, as did david sabin, who played it in. Postmasters boy the postmasters boy mute role is one of evanss students, who plays a fairy in the final prank on falstaff. In other words, when people get duped in this play, they often end up looking like chumps in front of a very large audience of people. The merry wives of windsor gives the folger theatre a.
Performances of the merry wives of windsor run approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including one 15minute intermission. Here he can indulge in excessive dining and intemperate drinking, as well as swagger and boast about his adventures, particularly those of an amorous nature. The merry wives of windsor is the most purely farcical of all of shakespeares plays. A complete list of scenes with locations and characters in the merry wives of windsor. The merry wives of windsor gives the folger theatre a groovy sendoff for now the merry wives of windsor breaks out the bellbottom jeans and a set inspired by the brady bunch. Melding the 1580s with the 1980s, its a lively, entertaining ride with the denizens of windsor. Stratford shakespeare festival production history wikipedia. As such it is a fascinating glimpse into town life in shakespeares own day. As he attempts to bed the wives of ford and page, the ladies attempt to revenge themselves upon him.
It must be the opening of the 2011 season of the stratford shakespeare festival. Merry wives of windsor shakespeare birthplace trust. The merry wives of windsor was first published as a quarto in 1602 q1 and then reprinted in a 1619 quarto edition q2. The merry wives of windsor or sir john falstaff and the merry wives of windsor is a comedy by. Wise to the old rogues tricks, the women turn the tables on him with a series of humiliating assignations and a very damp, extremely smelly. This stimulating new edition celebrates the play as a joyous exploration of language, but also places elements of its plot firmly in a continental, specifically italian.
Theatregoers, actors, and playwrights flock to stratford to take partmany of the greatest. Watch bbc television shakespeare season 1, episode 23 the merry wives of windsor. The merry wives of windsor shakespeare and the players. Dont miss this exuberant production of shakespeares the merry wives of windsor. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Wise to the old rogues tricks, the women turn the tables on him with a series of. The merry wives of windsor kindle edition by shakespeare, william. There are several funny moments in folgers production of the merry wives of windsor, going on now until march 1. The merry wives of windsor shakespeare homepage merry wives of windsor you can buy the arden text of this play from the online bookstore. Shakespeares globe theatr dvd 2011 region 1 us import ntsc. Throw in a jealous husband in disguise, and falstaff into a laundry basket, and much wackiness ensues a new month 3 1 2011 act one. Sir john falstaff devises a plan to seduce both mistress page and mistress ford, the wives of two wealthy burgesses of windsor. Cathy nodded towards the poolside where johnny johnson was flexing his muscles ready to dive in. It won an oscar in 1954 for best short subject onereel. The merry wives of windsor kindle edition by shakespeare.
The merry wives of windsor rated pg march 29 april 21, 2019 directors. In the merry wives of windsor, fat, disreputable sir john falstaff pursues two housewives, mistress ford and mistress page, who outwit and humiliate him instead. The wives find he sent them identical letters and take revenge by playing tricks on falstaff when he comes calling. Bbc television shakespeares the merry wives of windsor is directed by david hugh jones and stars richard griffiths as the lovable buffoon sir john falstaff. Falstaff hopes to seduce the wives so he can gain access to their husbands wealth. Some of shakespeares most beloved comic characters come together in his bawdy, riotous romp, the merry wives of windsor. The merry wives of windsor 20112012 season issue 6. It was included in the 1623 first folio f1 in a version that is nearly twice as long as q1, and although the two share essentially the same course of dramatic action, in some places their dialogue diverges substantially. Portland state university ticketing box office home.
Watching the merry wives of windsor is like channel surfing between backtoback episodes of punkd. When merry wives was published in the first folio 1623 edition of shakespeares works, it was the only play in which the female characters didnt share the title with their male counterparts. The merry wives of windsor o powerful love, that in some respects makes a beast a man, in some other a man a beast. Wives, like many of shakespeares comedies, exists mainly to twist characters in plotting knots, and. Blending elements of folk music from the british isles and the americas, the foundation of the merry wives sound is rich vocal harmonies, with support and ornamentation by traditional and contemporary folk instruments. For the corpulent nobleman, sir john falstaff, the inn in the small english town of windsor is the best of all places. The merry wives of windsor folger shakespeare library. Overture to the merry wives of windsor also known as the merry wives of windsor overture is a 1953 american short musical film produced by johnny green. Sir john falstaff vastly underestimates the merry wives in the town of windsor as he hatches a frothy scheme to drain their bank accounts and drive their husbands insane with jealousy. The play centers on two witty middleclass women, mistress page and mistress ford, and their comic plots to expose a lecherous knight who has made advances to both of them. The merry wives of windsor the bill shakespeare project. The film consists of the mgm symphony orchestra playing the overture to otto nicolais opera the merry wives of windsor, conducted by johnny green. Read every line of shakespeares original text alongside a modern english translation.
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