William Shakespeare’s
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
Directed by BETH STOCKTON
PERFORMANCES NOV. 8-17, 2024 – Fri & Sat at 7pm, Sun at 2pm
ARTSPACE BLACK BOX THEATER • 2956 SCHOOL ST., SIMI VALLEY, CA 93065
AUDITIONS 9/16 & 9/17 – 7-9PM • CALLBACKS 9/18 -7-9PM
Synopsis:
The boozing and boorish Sir John Falstaff (from Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part One and Henry IV Part Two) is in Windsor looking to have fun. But he’s running out of money, and so hatches a plot to woo a wealthy wife away from her husband and get her money. But instead of sending a love letter to just one woman, he sends identical letters to two: Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford. The women learn about Falstaff’s dishonorable intentions, and set out to humiliate him appropriately. At the same time, several local men are vying for the hand of Anne Page, the proprietor of the local tavern hangout plays practical jokes on various citizens, and the children of the city join in a masque to scare Falstaff. A play full of witty characters, language and word play, and practical jokes against Falstaff, The Merry Wives of Windsor is a lovely romp with a delightfully happy ending.
AVAILABLE ROLES:
SIR JOHN FALSTAFF
The famous knight from Shakespeare’s Henry IV plays, Sir John Falstaff is a man past his prime. He imagines that he is a great lover and scholar, when in actuality he is something of a bully and encourages his followers Bardolph, Pistol, and Nym to cause mischief as well. He steals money, poaches deer, and eats and drinks to excess in other men’s houses. This lifestyle is expensive and he needs money, which inspires his plan to send identical love letters to Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page, in the hopes that he can woo them and then get their money. Falstaff–so overconfident in his lover’s appeal–has no idea that the wives are out to make a fool of him. He is dumped in the Thames, and then beaten while disguised as an old woman, but still agrees to meet the women in the woods at night, dressed like a mythological figure with horns on his head. Despite the humiliations he suffers, Falstaff understands that he brought his misfortunes upon himself, and agrees to let go of any animosity towards the wives or their husbands.
MR. FORD
Mr. Ford is a wealthy gentleman of Windsor. He has a suspicious nature, and when he learns that Sir John Falstaff sent his wife a love letter, he is immediately jealous and suspects the worst. (In fact, his wife knows that Ford is prone to jealousy, and does nothing to discourage him in order to further her pranks against Falstaff.) To investigate Falstaff’s intentions, Ford disguises himself as a man named Brook, and visits the knight claiming he is in love with Mrs. Ford and wants to seduce her away. When Falstaff agrees to help “Brook,” Ford fears the worst, and actively tries to catch his wife in the affair. His temper is extreme–he turns his own house upside down to find the lecherous Falstaff, and later physically beats Falstaff (disguised as an old woman) out of his house. He is also incredulous that Mr. Page is never concerned that his own wife will cheat, and the two husbands are set up as foils for each other. In the end, Ford realizes that he was foolish to mistrust his wife, and apologizes for his temper and mistrust.
MRS. FORD
Mrs. Ford, one of the titular “Merry Wives,” is a fun-loving and social lady of Windsor. Even though she is married, Sir John Falstaff sends her a love letter, hoping that he can woo and win her–and her money. But he has also sent the same letter to her best friend, Mrs. Page. The women decide that they must teach Falstaff a lesson, and so Mrs. Ford pretends to be swayed by Falstaff. She plays coy and entices him with rendezvouses when her husband isn’t home, but then crafts humiliations for the lecherous knight, such as dumping him in the river or burning him with candles. Her husband is jealous of those who pay attention to Mrs. Ford–including Mrs. Page, and chides the women that they would marry each other if they could. Despite her pranks against Falstaff, the good-natured Mrs. Ford is a loyal wife and friend.
MR. PAGE
A wealthy gentleman of Windsor, Mr. Page enjoys throwing dinner parties and wining and dining his neighbors– especially when those neighbors are interested in marrying his daughter Anne. Unlike his jealous neighbor Mr. Ford, Page is never concerned about his wife’s fidelity. He relies on her implicitly, and gives her the freedom to walk around town unaccompanied, trusts her with money, and lets her associate with whomever she pleases. Page does, however, disagree with his wife on who should marry their daughter, and he sets out to make sure Slender is the groom. But when Anne elopes with Fenton, Page is understanding and forgiving. Besides his domestic affairs, Page enjoys participating in the pranks against Sir Hugh Evans and Dr. Caius, and in the end gathers everyone for a wedding feast at his house.
MRS. PAGE
One of the titular “Merry Wives,” Mrs. Page is the recipient of a love letter from Sir John Falstaff. However, he sent an identical letter to her friend, Mrs. Ford, and the women realize that he does not have true love or honorable intentions. Together the best friends plot to humiliate Falstaff. While Mrs. Ford is the “bait” for the knight, Mrs. Page is the set-up woman–she announces when Mr. Ford will be home and conveys messages to people regarding their pranks. Mrs. Page is also a mother; in one scene, she takes her young son William to school and he recites a Latin lesson along the way. But she is also preoccupied with Anne, her daughter, who is now of marrying age. Mrs. Page wants Anne to marry the local physician Dr. Caius, while her husband prefers his friend Slender, and Anne herself is in love with Fenton. Mrs. Page is ultimately understanding of her daughter’s choice, and forgives Falstaff. She is clever and good-natured, and enjoys the celebration at the end.
MISTRESS QUICKLY
A servant in the house of Dr. Caius, Mistress Quickly is an engaging busybody known around town for her wit and influence with Anne Page (a young woman several men want to marry). Quickly easily goes from house to house, delivering messages and—in the case of Fenton—a ring. Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page enlist Mistress Quickly to help them humiliate Falstaff. She happily joins in the plots of the “merry wives,” especially when she entices Falstaff to dress up as a mythical horned hunter and meet with the wives in the woods. Quickly jumps into the scheme and, as a fairy in the final masque, entices the costumes children to burn and pinch Falstaff. However, she is never maliciously cruel, but rather motivated by money and having a good time. Mistress Quickly’s loyalties fluctuate, based on what she perceives to be her best interests.
FENTON
Fenton is a young man in love with Anne Page. Because he is a former friend of Prince Hal (known for his wild partying), Anne’s father Mr. Page tries to keep the young lovers apart. Fenton gives up trying to get Mr. Page to like him, and decides that he must take action if he is to marry Anne–rather than either of the men her parents prefer. He is romantic and honorable, and recognizes Anne as more than money or property. His devotion to Anne is so strong that he is able to win over the favor of many people around him. But he knows that he could never sway Mr. Page’s opinion, and so enlists the help of the Garter Inn Host to arrange a secret wedding. Because Fenton has wealth, he is able to coordinate this wedding, and pay his helpers well. After the wedding, Fenton confronts Mr. Page and argues for Anne’s happiness–a poignant moment that wins over a previously reluctant father.
ROBERT SHALLOW
Robert Shallow is an elderly country justice (he states that he has lived “fourscore years and upward”). He is a friend of several local men, and regularly reminds people of his elevated social status; while he is not a knight, he is still aristocratic, and feels comfortable confronting Falstaff (who has poached deer from his land). Shallow relies on his friendship with Mr. Page to negotiate an engagement between his cousin Slender and Page’s daughter Anne, and doesn’t care that Slender has no interest in getting married. Shallow’s name is heavily symbolic–while he presents himself as important, well-born, and better than others, he is actually fairly shallow and rarely says anything of substance or significant.
ABRAHAM SLENDER
Slender is a young man and cousin to Justice Shallow. While Shallow is working to arrange a marriage between Slender and Anne Page, Slender has absolutely no interest in marriage and is consistently awkward and even insulting around her. He is more interested in living a bachelor’s life, and is even a little resentful that he is being forced into a union, even though it is with a wealthy and desirable young woman. Slender tends to be a follower, doing whatever Shallow commands. While he is privy to several of the pranks of the play, he doesn’t seem to understand the purpose of them. More than that, Slender has almost no sense of humor, and doesn’t enjoy the merriment or celebrations of marriage.
ANN PAGE
Anne Page is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Page. She is eligible for marriage, and while each parent has a different suitor in mind (specifically Dr. Caius and Slender), Anne’s heart belongs to Fenton. Anne is witty and clever around her suitors, despite her patience clearly being stretched thin by the dull Slender. When she is with Fenton, Anne is loving and romantic, and her conflicted loyalties are evident. She loves Fenton, but also understands her duty to her parents. Ultimately, Anne takes charge of her future and slips away with Fenton to be married.
SIR HUGH EVANS
The local parson and schoolteacher, Sir Hugh Evans enjoys being involved with the day-to-day business in Windsor. He begins the play insulted by Falstaff’s boorish behavior, but quickly forgets his animosity. He is friends with Robert Shallow and Abraham Slender, and makes it his mission to help Slender win the heart of Anne Page. But in doing so, he makes an enemy of one of Anne’s other suitors: Dr. Caius. He and Caius are scheduled to duel, but each goes to a different location for the fight, and they ultimately abandon their animosity. When he realizes that the Host of the Garter Inn interfered in the duel, they join forces to prank him in return. Evans is foreign, and speaks with an accent which makes him the butt of a few jokes. But he is intelligent and quick-witted, so others enjoy his company. He begins the play insulted by Falstaff’s boorish behavior, but quickly forgets his animosity.
DOCTOR CAIUS
Dr. Caius is the French physician in Windsor who wants to marry Anne Page, and he is Anne’s mother’s choice for her daughter. He is suspicious by nature, and ready to rise up and defend his honor if he thinks he’s been wronged. At the slightest insult, he is ready to fight to the death–when Dr. Caius discovers a strange servant in his house, he challenges Sir Hugh Evans to a duel. Only by the quick thinking and misdirection by the other characters saves both men from a fight. As a foreigner, Caius speaks with a thick accent and is often made the butt of jokes that he doesn’t understand because he is unfamiliar with English slang. Dr. Caius is also the master of Rugby, a rather dull servant, and Mistress Quickly, the local busybody who assists in pranking Falstaff.
THE HOST OF THE GARTER INN
The Host of the Garter Inn is the local barkeep of Windsor, ready to listen to any laments and jump into any plots that involve pranks. When he learns that Dr. Caius and Sir Hugh Evans are preparing to duel, he sends each of them to a different location, and later mocks them. When the jealous Mr. Ford wants to deceive Falstaff, the Host helps disguise the husband as a man named “Brook.” When Fenton seeks his help so that he and Anne may elope, the Host agrees to arrange for a priest to perform the ceremony. The Host is loud and boisterous, and gives his patrons nicknames. He often seems to have good intentions–but he does insult and mock people behind their backs, so it is satisfying when Dr. Caius and Hugh Evans prank him.
BARDOLPH
Bardolph is a follower of Sir John Falstaff. He enjoys drinking and rowdiness, but is a terrible thief and often caught, forcing Falstaff to bargain for his freedom. To earn money honestly, Bardolph becomes a bartender at the Garter Inn. He is a flat character, interested only in parties and a good time with his friends. He is largely abandoned by everyone, though, because he is too dedicated to drinking, so the Inn is the perfect place for him.
PISTOL
Pistol is a follower of Falstaff. He enjoys drinking and having a good time, but can also have a temper. He is all talk and no action–even when he threatens someone, he never follows through. He hangs around Falstaff mostly to get money and booze, and is privy to Falstaff’s plan to woo the “merry wives” and get their money. Pistol does develop a conscience, however; after delivering one of Falstaff’s love letters, he and his friend Nym tell Mr. Ford and Mr. Page that Falstaff is trying to seduce their wives. After that confession, he is still willing to carouse with his friends and insult anyone who walks by.
NYM
Nym is a follower of Sir John Falstaff. Like his friends, he spends his time drinking, thieving, and causing mischief. However, Nym does develop a conscience after Falstaff decides to woo the “merry wives” in order to get their money. He convinces Pistol to tell the husbands Mr. Ford and Mr. Page what Falstaff is up to. Nym’s sense of honor doesn’t last long, and in true barfly fashion, he continues to drink and insult his friends and even his enemies.
SIMPLE
Simple is the foolish and simple-minded servant to Abraham Slender. Like his master, Simple is fairly boring, and spends most of his time running errands and delivering messages for Slender and Shallow (Slender’s cousin). He is easily threatened and tricked into giving up messages to the wrong people, complicating the plot of Slender and Anne Page.
WILLIAM PAGE
William Page is the young son of Mr. and Mrs. Page, and the little brother to Anne. He recites a Latin lesson to his mother and Hugh Evans, and while the brief scene has nothing to do with the plot, it does give a glimpse of a schoolboy’s life in Windsor. Presumably, this also echoes the life and education Shakespeare himself would have had in Stratford.Pistol is a follower of Falstaff. He enjoys drinking and having a good time, but can also have a temper. He is all talk and no action–even when he threatens someone, he never follows through. He hangs around Falstaff mostly to get money and booze, and is privy to Falstaff’s plan to woo the “merry wives” and get their money. Pistol does develop a conscience, however; after delivering one of Falstaff’s love letters, he and his friend Nym tell Mr. Ford and Mr. Page that Falstaff is trying to seduce their wives. After that confession, he is still willing to carouse with his friends and insult anyone who walks by.
ROBIN
Robin is the page to Falstaff. Mrs. Ford enlists his help to serve as a messenger for Falstaff, and he (perhaps unwittingly) helps the wives trick and humiliate Falstaff.
RUGBY
Rugby is the wearied servant of Dr. Caius. He delivers messages while desperate to avoid his master’s unreasonable and quick temper. Rugby generally helps Mistress Quickly, who is also a messenger between Falstaff and the wives, as well as between Anne Page and Dr. Caius.
ENSEMBLE
The adult ensemble is largely made up of servants, some of whom have featured lines. They work for Mrs. Ford, and assist her with the humiliation of Falstaff: While he is hiding in a laundry basket, they dump him in the Thames River. The child ensemble are local children of Windsor who dress up as fairies and nymphs in order to scare Falstaff in Act Five. They sing and dance a masque, and burn and pinch the knight with candles.
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