“Wives may be merry, and yet honest too.”

The Merry Wives of Windsor is one of Shakespeare’s bawdiest and funniest comedies. In this play, the roguish knight Sir John Falstaff has decided that the cure to his poverty is to seduce two wealthy married women and convince them to give him their husbands’ money. It doesn’t occur to the “old fat knight” that these two women are best friends or that they may discuss Falstaff’s indecent proposals with each other. The women decide to teach Falstaff, and one jealous husband,  lessons they will never forget. In a turn that is unusual in historical theater, the women are the smarter characters in this play and they play their merry jests with great success. A flamboyant French doctor, a pedantic Welsh parson, star-crossed lovers and other characters round out this wonderful ensemble cast.