One star for richard griffiths as falstaff, one for ben kingsley as frank ford, and two big. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Oregon shakespeare festival the merry wives of windsor. Cast in credits order complete, awaiting verification. Ironically, despite flying the flag for realism, the bbc merry wives is most successful in the fantastical final act, with a moonlit grove momentarily turned into an ancient pagan festival enhanced by dominic muldowneys evocative score, as fairies and masked woodland creatures conspire to bring falstaff down both literally and metaphorically. This stage production of shakespeares comedy features a plan by sir john falstaff leon charles to live off the proceeds of two married women he has seduced.
Since the merry wives of windsor is basically a spinoff of henry iv part 1, shakespeare would have expected his audience to know all about mistress quicklys shady ways. The merry wives of windsor or sir john falstaff and the merry wives of windsor is a comedy by. William shakespeare, the complete works of william shakespeare the oxford shakespeare, ed. The merry wives determine to carry on their harassment of john falstaff, if their husbands so wish.
Ford worries about its consequences and seems fearful at first even to tell her friend about falstaffs letter. In scene 4, ford begs pardon of his wife for his being such a fool i rather will suspect the sun with cold than thee with wantonness and the group decides to have one last sport at falstaffs expense. Rent the merry wives of windsor 1982 on dvd and bluray. The merry wives of windsor bbc shakespeare collection 1982. An overview and statistics of shakespeares play the merry wives of windsor. This production of the merry wives of windsor is part of shakespeare in american communities, a national program of the national endowment for the arts in partnership with arts midwest.
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. The merry wives of windsor kindle edition by shakespeare. Oct, 2017 its a hilarious battle of wits as the merry wives and their neighbors go to town on falstaff and try to make rubes of him and his city slickers. The merry wives of windsor is shakespeares warmest and richest comedy. But the merry wives of windsor is an extraordinary play because it makes us reconsider the importance of what we deem trivial. The merry wives of windsor opera by nicolai britannica. Act 1, scene 3 read the full text of the merry wives of windsor act 1 scene 3 with a sidebyside translation here.
A group of singing ladies who sound like celtic woman went to a flogging molly concert. Laird converted the merry wives of windsor into a sort of reality television episode that mimics a british soap opera known as towie the only way is essex. Louis shakespeares 2011 production of the merry wives of windsor. My only grucche is that the merry wives of windsor is one of shakespeares weakest plays. When they put their heads together and compare missives, they plan a practical joke or two to teach the knight a lesson. By following the current fashion for modernization of shakespeares plays, ms. Merry wives of windsor now on your favorite device. In honor of this sensational new shakespeare on film experience of the merry wives of windsor, lets take a look at the top ten or so most. Act i 8 volume i book vii shallow nay, but understand me.
The merry wives of windsor by william shakespeare more information play synopsis sir john falstaff, staying in windsor and down on his luck, decides to restore his fortunes by seducing the wives of two wealthy citizens. The merry wives of windsor shakespeare theatre of new jersey. The merry wives of windsor by william shakespeare in. Watch the video linked here for more information and then to sign up visit the rencruise reservation page. Melding the 1580s with the 1980s, its a lively, entertaining ride with the denizens of windsor. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Merry wives of windsor gorin popp foster hightower 1965. Rent the merry wives of windsor 1982 on dvd and bluray dvd. Dates and sources the merry wives of windsor royal. Sir hugh evans is a welsh parson and the schoolmaster of windsor.
The merry wives of windsor explores similar expectations and tensions, and this adaptation carries them into the period just after the war, when triumphant feeling struggled with the realities of a threatening world. My sweet readers, i have broken a promise in watching a bbc complete shakespeare film. One star for richard griffiths as falstaff, one for ben kingsley as frank ford, and two big stars for prunella scales and judy davis as. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the merry wives of windsor. The merry wives of windsor british universities film. It is like that simpsons episode where all the male simpsons gather and can find nothing better to do than charge each other head first like stags. Even though shakespeare explores some potentially weighty themes like jealousy and love, the play is lighthearted and has a sense of humor much like the title characters. On top of that, justice shallow and his youthful cousin, slender, have come to windsor because falstaff has conned them out of money. In the merry wives of windsor, fat, disreputable sir john falstaff pursues two housewives, mistress ford and mistress page, who outwit and humiliate him instead. When sir john falstaff decides that he wants to have a. The merry wives of windsor takes one of shakespeares most popular characters, sir john falstaff, and gives him a story of his own where he tries to make advances on two wives to improve his station in life but in so doing only makes a total fool of himself. Alice ford star in the title roles 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.
It is thought to have been performed before queen elizabeth i at windsor castle. Rent the merry wives of windsor 1982 starring ben kingsley and richard griffiths on dvd and bluray. Aug 03, 2017 dont miss this exuberant production of shakespeares the merry wives of windsor. Page is openly contemptuous of falstaffs scheme right from the start, while mrs. The merry wives of windsor not rated 2h 50min comedy, romance tv movie 27 december 1982 when sir john falstaff decides that he wants to have a little fun he writes two letters to a pair of window wives. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The merry wives of windsor is largely original and appears to have no major source, although various aspects of the story, such as the surprised wife and cuckolded husband and the playing of tricks on a prospective suitor, were familiar in literature. When sir john falstaff decides that he wants to have a little fun he writes two letters to a pair of window wives.
With alan bennett, richard ocallaghan, tenniel evans, bryan marshall. The windsor of the plays title is a reference to the town of windsor, also the location of windsor castle, in berkshire, england. The merry wives of windsor bbc shakespeare collection. Dont miss this exuberant production of shakespeares the merry wives of windsor. Fred rogers on letterman, february 17, 1982 duration. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Shakespeare didnt name his play the bitter wives of windsor or the vengeful wives of windsor. We dont often think about high art as concerning itself with things like grease and dirt. Merry wives of windsor gorin popp foster hightower 1965 youtube. The merry wives of windsor is one of shakespeares comedies. The merry wives of windsor kindle edition by shakespeare, william. Merry wives is about feeling like an outsider to a community and finding identity within it. The merry wives of windsor tv movie 1982 the merry wives.
Additional support provided by the nicholas and mary babson fund to support chicago artists. The merry wives of windsor are excited to announce that we will be going sailing in november of 2020 and we would like you to come with us. Meanwhile the women quietly get on with running things. I will description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it. Here is a brief the merry wives of windsor summary. The merry wives of windsor play is set in windsor in berkshire, england. Support of the acting company of the merry wives of windsor is provided by merle reskin. The opera is a singspiel, containing much spoken dialogue between distinct musical numbers.
Instead of setting it in windsor, the play is moved to brentwood, essex. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Complete works of william shakespeare translations. Meanwhile, three suitors seek the hand of anne page, mistress pages daughter. But mistress fords husband is a very jealous man and is pumping falstaff for information of the affair. The merry wives of windsor bbc2 comedy drama british. The merry wives of windsor online library of liberty. The merry wives of windsor tv movie 1982 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors. 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. The merry wives of windsor 1982 david jones synopsis. The merry wives of windsor 1982 the drunken odyssey. The merry wives of windsor was presented in the jentes family auditorium. Shakespeare differentiates between the two husbands page and ford and, to a lesser extent, between the two wives in this scene. Falstaff hopes to seduce the wives so he can gain access to their husbands wealth.
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