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The Merry Wives of Windsor
by
William Shakespeare
Directed by Caroline Melliar-Smith
22nd June - 30th June 1990
Open-Air Shakespeare set to the backdrop of Gawsworth Hall.
Here we have a play of revenge, both comic and satirical, set in Windsor. Many of the chracters are characterisations of well-known Court figures of the time.
Justice Shallow and nephew Slender both from neighbouring Glocestershire come to complain of Sir John Falstaff's poaching activities.
A plot is laid between Shallow and parson Evans to marry Slender to Anne page in order to gain access to her inherited wealth.
Anne Page is in love with Fenton, refused as suitor to her by her father because of previous wild and spendthrift activities.
Mistress Page (mother to Anne) and her friend Mistress Ford are sent identical love letters from Falstaff who, now being short of money, hopes to make some monetary gain particularily through Mistress Ford.
Both ladies plot their revenge on Falstaff by revealing his plot to the ladies' husbands. Ford rises to the bait, being jealous by nature, and plots to catch his wife and Falstaff together.
Mistress Quickly plots simultaneously on behalf of both wives and also Dr Caius and Fenton who are vying for Ane Page's favours.
Caius and Evans vow to revenge the Host because he makes fools of them over a duel fought for Anne page.
A final grand plot aginst Falstaff by all he has offended, results in his final downfall, punched and humiliated by the fairies of Windsor.
Fenton and Anne Page are finally united and Ford and his wife reconciled.
| Sir John Falstaff |
Ken Currah |
| Fenton, a young gentleman |
Steve Johnson |
| Shallow, a country Justice |
Jeff Lomas |
| Abaraham Slender, Shallow's kinsman |
Julian Rawel |
| Frank Ford, a citizen of Windsor |
Steve Williamson |
| George Page, a citizen of Windsor |
John Chidgey |
| Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh Parson |
Eric Smith |
| Doctor Caius, a French physician |
Norman Whitelam |
| Host of the Garter Inn |
Fred Donnan |
| Bardolph, a follower of Falstaff |
Geoffrey Martin |
| Pistol, a follower of Falstaff |
Mike Rogerson |
| Nym, a follower of Falstaff |
Charlie Cook |
| Robin, Falstaff's Page |
Richard Adams
Simon Gray |
| Peter Simple, Slender's servant |
Simon Donnan |
| John Rugby, Doctor Caius' manservant |
Charlie Cook |
| John, one of Ford's servants |
Mike Rogerson |
| Robert, one of Ford's servants |
Geoffrey Martin |
| Mistress Ford (Alice), wife of Ford |
Adele Taylor |
| Mistress Page (Margaret), wife of Page |
Christina Howarth |
| Anne Page, daughter to Page and Mistress Page |
Helen Bargate |
| Mistress Quickly, Doctor Caius' servant |
Clare McGlashan |
| Servants, Tavern Wenches and Fairies |
| Julia Burgess, Lesley Beeley, Tamzin Burrows, Samuel Burrow, Kieran Donnan, Val Fentem, Rebecca Fentem, Kate Fentem, Charlotte Duck, Susie Kinsella, Sarah Lawless, Angharrad Palin, Adele McCormack, Graeth MacDonnell, Liz Stokes |
| Dancers |
| Celia Bonner, Diana Boswell, Jilly Burrows, Doreen Donnan, June Janes, Fiona Redclift |
| Stage Manager |
Jayne Willmott |
| Deputy Stage Managers |
Barbara Wood
Pat Barrett |
| ASMs |
Val Fentem
Sue Lee |
| Costumes created by Charles Alty of Oldham |
| Wardrobe Mistress |
Sonia Dykstra |
| Wardrobe Assistants |
Sheila Hine
Pat Barrow |
| Props |
Alan and Sue Offer |
| Lighting |
Robin Watkinson |
| Sound |
Graham Boswell |
| Production Electricians |
Dave Eady
Olive Bradbury |
| Choreography and Dance Training |
Jilly Burrows |
| Front Cover |
Jacque Bilsborough |
| Typesetting |
Dave Eady |
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