A publication of the shakespeare theatre company asides. William shakespeare the merry wives of windsor lyrics. The merry wives of windsor act 4, scene 1 translation. Merry wives of windsor shakespeare birthplace trust. Shakespeares only comedy set in an english small town is also the comedy boasting the most prose and the most references to household life. How alice ford and margaret page earn their paradise is played out against an acute and lovingly observed tapestry of shakespeares own country, elizabethan england, its follies, strengths and new emerging society. A publication of the shakespeare theatre company asides 3 additional support. Host of the garter inn is a rather merry innkeeper who is incapable of saying anything simply and likes showing off how many words he knows. Published in 1602 but thought to have been written at least five years earlier, the merry wives of windsor is one of shakespeares slighter and less frequently performed comedies.
The merry wives of windsor henry iv part 1 was almost certainly performed before queen elizabeth in the winter of 15967. English theatre, merry wives of windsor was written just for her. Patricks extravaganza at the coach house in san juan capistrano on saturday, march 16th, 20. The wives find he sent them identical letters and take revenge by playing tricks on falstaff when he comes calling. Ford plans to pass himself off as a man named brook to falstaff in order to get further information. Their husbands arrive onstage, discussing what a yoke of his falstaffs discarded men, pistol and nym, have told them concerning falstaffs amorous plans for their merry wives. 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. The merry wives of windsor internet shakespeare editions. The merry wives of windsor the shakespeare theatre of.
Australia brazil canada china france germany india italy japan. Department of theatre and dance at cal state fullerton. It turns out this is a pretty big deal because the merry wives of windsor is the only shakespearean comedy with an allenglish setting. Pete le mayrsc shakespeares great revenge comedy gains immeasurably from being staged in modern dress. The merry wives of windsor is a comedy by william shakespeare, first published in 1602, though.
Folio 1 1623, folio 2 1632, folio 3 16634, folio 4 1685 quartos. Frothy merriment by gwendolyn rice, the isthmus, june 20, 2015. Falstaff decides to fix his financial woe by seducing the wives of two wealthy merchants. The merry wives of windsor is certainly not of the same caliber as most of shakespeares better known works, but it is a wild, endearing, hilarious look at the eras particular brand of ribald stage comedy, a distinct entertainment that has been lost in the shuffle of literary hemming and hawing over the last four centuries, and windsor. Usa merry wives of windsor 2011, annapolis shakespeare company, usa. The merry wives of windsor or sir john falstaff and 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. Though nominally set in the reign of henry iv or early in. The merry wives of windsor is sponsored by arlene and robert kogod there is a great deal of conjecture about when the merry wives of windsor was written.
Margaret page in the great lakes theater production of shakespeares uproarious battle of the sexes the merry wives of windsor at the hanna theatre, playhousesquare which runs through november 2. Bbc television shakespeares the merry wives of windsor. Apt opens with fresh, funny production of merry wives of windsor by mike fischer, the milwaukee journal sentinal, june 15, 2015. The play explores social standing, jealousy, civic order, and the struggles. It is said that he queen so enjoyed the antics of the rascally, fat knight, falstaff, in the henry iv plays, that she wanted to see him in love. Quarto 1 bad quarto 1602, quarto 2 bad quarto 1619, quarto 3 1630. But the merry wives of windsor is an extraordinary play because it makes us reconsider the importance of what we deem trivial. Louis shakespeares 2011 production of the merry wives of windsor. The play places sir john falstaff in the country village of windsor in the contemporary setting of the elizabethan era. According to one school of thought, the play was written for elizabeth is garter feast, held at. The action of the play takes place between that of henry iv, part 2, created in 1597, and henry v, which dates to 1599. The merry wives of windsor stands out among shakespeares plays as the only one centered on middle class people, as opposed to royalty and the ruling classes. The merry wives of windsor 1600 scenes 23 total complete text act i. When sir john falstaff decides that he wants to have a little fun he writes two letters to a pair of window wives.
Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. It is thought to have been performed before queen elizabeth i at windsor castle. The merry wives of windsor is shakespeares warmest and richest comedy. Ever notice how shakespeares other comedies always seem to be set in. The merry wives of windsor or sir john falstaff and the merry wives of windsor is a comedy by william shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to. It shows the life in that english provincial town in 1590. The merry wives of windsor by william shakespeare directed by joseph arnold. With norman foster, colette boky, charles igor gorin, mildred miller. Watch bbc television shakespeare season 1, episode 23 the merry wives of windsor. Shakespeare, her favorite playwright, obliged with a script on sort notice. There is a long tradition that the queen was so taken with falstaff that she commanded shakespeare to write a. I think it appropriate to speak of, merry wives of windsor.
The merry wives of windsor play is set in windsor in berkshire, england. The merry wives of windsor illustrates symbolically that transfer. The merry wives of windsor by william shakespeare classroom activities guide. The merry wives live with the poxy boggards march 16th we are thrilled to announce our st. Ford, get the better of a golddigging philanderer, falstaff. It features the fat knight sir john falstaff, and is shakespeares only play to deal exclusively with contemporary elizabethan era english middle class life. Dont miss this exuberant production of shakespeares the merry wives of windsor. The windsor of the plays title is a reference to the town of windsor, also the location of windsor castle, in berkshire, england. With the help of their husbands and friends, the wives play one last trick in the woods to put falstaffs. Classroom activities guide william shakespeare, widely recognized as the greatest english dramatist, was born on april 23, 1564. When they put their heads together and compare missives, they plan a practical joke or two to teach the knight a lesson. April 23, 1597 for queen elizabeth at the garter feast number of lines. Shakespeares merry wives of windsor it is the most middleclass play in setting, subject matter, and outlook, with physical gags and linguistic jokes. The merry wives of windsor is a comedy by william shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597.
Caius is from france and sir hugh evans has a welsh accent, both are mocked for their pronunciation and their point of difference. This is why the play is set in windsor at the time of one of the garter feasts that were held at windsor castle on the eve of st. But its the women of windsor who pull the strings in. Shakespeare has obviously got a thing for writing about the dangers of male sexual jealousy. Join the poxy boggards and us for an electrifying night.
Anyone coming from outside that social structure or from outside the confines of windsor are viewed with suspicion. Though nominally set in the reign of henry iv or early in the reign of. In the merry wives of windsor, a mistrustful husband learns that another man plans to seduce his wife. The merry wives of windsor by shakespeare, william, 15641616. It features the fat knight sir john falstaff, and is shakespeares only play to deal exclusively with contemporary elizabethan era. Melding the 1580s with the 1980s, its a lively, entertaining ride with the denizens of windsor. With alan bennett, richard ocallaghan, tenniel evans, bryan marshall. Doublemeanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as sir john falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing mistress page and mistress. Read every line of shakespeares original text alongside a modern english translation. If youve been paying attention then you already know that this play is set in windsor, englanda rural town southwest of london. However, that is something this production embraces, engulfing the play in a hearty dose of 1960s pop culture and country music. Wives of windsor 2005, shakespeare festival im globe neuss, germany. Actors aled davies center, as falstaff shares the spotlight with the wise wives of windsor, laura welsh berg right, as mrs.
The merry wives of windsor, 2015 american players theatre. Actually understand the merry wives of windsor act 4, scene 1. The merry wives of windsor is one of shakespeares comedies. The merry wives of windsor open source shakespeare. The queen fairy masque represents the new milieu for the process. Pride and prejudice, the merry wives of windsor and the island by melissa hall, stage write, july 2, 2015. The merry wives of windsor, folio 1, 1623 oldspelling transcription the merry.
Much like a midsummers nights dream, the final scene focuses on an encounter between the. Page asks sir hugh evans to test her son william in his latin grammatical inflections. But it is the women who win the day in this comedy. Shakespeare must have written the latter before deciding on the chronology of the merry wives of windsor in relation. The merry wives of windsor shakespeare study guide.
Adapter alison carey and director christopher liam moore talk about the script of the very merry wives of windsor, iowa the registerguard the very merry wives of windsor, iowa is careys take on not only shakespeares wellloved comedy but also on the contemporary politics of exclusion and the rights of gay couples to marry. The merry wives of windsor is one of shakespeares most middle class plays. The merry wives of windsor takes place in an age when males often regarded females as playthings and when parents often chose the suitors for their daughters. Shakespeare is unlikely to have created the merry wives of windsor before late 1599 or 1600. This fall, enjoy the american premiere of nell gwynn, the songand dancefilled tale of a kings mistress. Long dismissed as one of shakespeares lesser accomplishments, the merry wives of windsor c. The opera remains popular in germany, and the overture is sometimes. Sir john falstaff plans to hustle his way to comfortable retirement by seducing the wives of two wealthy men. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.
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