The Merry Wives of Windsor

Synopsis

Falstaff gets him come-uppance (three times) in this rather confused but at times immensely funny Shakespeare comedy - his only one about the middle classes. The story, almost certainly false, goes that Queen Elizabeth I so enjoyed the character of Falstaff that she asked to see him again in another play - in love. Shakespeare is supposed to have obliged with this delightful romp.

Our Review:

17 November 2010

Christopher Luscombe’s glorious production of Shakespeare’s farce The Merry Wives of Windsor is full of brio and affection, utilising the conventions of physical comedy quite as much as the text to bring forth gales of laughter in the audience. The cast bring immense energy and affection to their performances: Christopher Benjamin makes a superb Falstaff, powerful and pitiful in equal measure. His timing is perfect and the richness of his voice calibrates a noble buffoonery perfectly.

The relationship between [Serena Evans[ as Mistress Page and Sarah Woodward as Mistress Ford is brilliantly devised. Their melodramatic overacting and facial expressions when in the presence of Falstaff are a pleasure in themselves. Philip Bird is excellent as the Frenchman, Dr Caius, his comic timing for the puns and linguistic jokes is impeccable. Andrew Havill as the jealously tormented Ford is inspired. Indeed the whole cast are almost uniformly excellent, with the exception...

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