MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR By William Shakespeare Directed By Robert Suddards Joyce On this page: Production Overview Cast List Photos

Falstaff arrives in Windsor very short on money. He decides he will court two wealthy married women, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page. Falstaff decides to send the women identical love letters, and asks his servant-Pistol and Nym-to deliver the to the wives. Then thery refuse Falstaff fires them, and in revenge them men tell Ford and Page (the Husbands) of Falstaff’s intentions. Page is not concerned, but the jealous Ford persuades the Host of the Garter to introduce him to Falstaff as Master Brooks so that he can find out Falstaff’s plans.

Meanwhile, three different men are trying to win the hand of Page’s daughter, Mistress Anne Page. Mistress Page would like her daughter to marry Doctor Caius, a French physician, whereas her father would like to marry Master Slender. Anne herself is in love with Fenton, but Page had previously rejected Fenton as a suitor due to his having squandered his considerable fortune on high-class living. Hugh Evans, the Welsh parson, tries to enlist the help of Mistress Quickly (servant to Doctor Caius) in wooing Anne for Slender, however, the doctor discover this and challenges Evans to a duel. The Host prevents this duel by telling both men a different meeting place, causing much amusement for himself, Justice Shallow, Page, and others. Evans and Caius decide to work together to be revenged on the Host.

When the women receive the letters each going to tell the other, and they quickly find that the letters are almost identical. The “merry wives” are not interested in the aging, overweight Falstaff as a suitor; however, for the sake of their own amusement, and to gain revenge for his indecent assumptions towards them both, they pretend to respond to his advances.

‘Brook’ says he is in love with Mistress Ford but cannot woo her as she is too virtuous. He offers to pay Falstaff to court her, saying that once she has lost her honor he will be able to tempt her himself. Falstaff cannot believe his luck, and tells ‘Brook’ he has already arranged to meet Mistress Ford while her husband is out. Falstaff leaves to keep his appointment and Fort soliloquies that he is right to suspect his wife and that the trusting Page is a fool.

When Falstaff arrives to meet Mistress Ford the merry wives trick him in hilarious ways. Watch for the exciting conclusion.

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