Oberon Theatre Announces Shakespeare-Inspired Season

Oberon Theatre Ensemble will celebrate its tenth anniversary season in 2007 with a present day version of the William Shakespeare comedy The Merry Wives Of Windsor and the New York Premiere of Ryan J-W Smith's Sweet Love Adieu- a tale written in the same comedic milieu. The two shows will play in repertory, opening March 8 at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row Studios (located at 412 West 42nd Street). 
 
"A comedic (and cautionary) tale on the dangers of jealousy, The Merry Wives Of Windsor features one of the most beloved characters in the Shakespeare canon: John Falstaff. A likeable (if unkempt), lazy and oft-drunken rogue (who thinks he's God's gift to women), Falstaff arrives in Windsor determined to seduce the wives of the two most prosperous men in town (Master Page and Master Ford - the latter having a strong suspicious streak in him when it comes to his wife's activities). However, the wives of the title quickly realize what Falstaff is up to and decide to teach him (and also, as it turns out, Master Ford) a much-needed lesson. Skillfully taking advantage of the men's follies, the women of Windsor prove they know what's best for themselves - and sometimes for their loved ones as well. The Merry Wives Of Windor will feature the musical stylings of Mickey Zettes, the creator of the hit Apathy: the Gen X Musical, which was performed at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in 2005," according to press notes.
 
Running in repertory with The Merry Wives Of Windsor is Ryan J-W Smith's romantic comedy Sweet Love Adieu. "As the tale begins, a young poet named William has fallen in love with Anne Beaumont, a most fair maiden. But the villainous Lord Edmund of Essex, Anne's powerful and wealthy guardian, has decided to marry Anne himself, assisted in this dastardly deed by his manservant Sidney. With the aid of William's friends Ridley and Latimer, and Ann's cousins Audrey and Faith, a plot is hatched to unite the young lovers in matrimony. It just might work - if everyone would stop getting their signals crossed and manage to find one another - both figuratively and literally.
 
"Both shows employ many standard Shakespeare devices, such as cross-dressing, strong women, earnest young men and somewhat foolish older ones, farcical situations and, in this case, happy endings - at least for those who deserve them."
 
Further details on The Merry Wives Of Windsor and Sweet Love Adieu (such as ticket prices, show dates and times) will be released in the coming weeks. 
 
More information about the Oberon Theatre Ensemble's 2007 season, as well as information on the company in general, is available at www.oberontheatre.org.