Review: Plotting with the MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR at Orlando Shakes

To some audience members THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR may not be the most familiar of Shakespeare's comedies, but after seeing this production it now stands in my top three. Orlando Shakespeare always does a great job keeping the material fresh and accessible to all audiences. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR is a natural fit for the Shakes interpretation, which sets the play in the late 1950s in a shiny suburb of America.

Two housewives, Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, live comfortably with their loyal husbands in the town of Windsor. A womanizing man named Sir John Falstaff arrives and tries to independently woo the two ladies partly for their money. Mistresses Page and Ford quickly figure out that they are both being pursued and plot a way to get back at Falstaff. As part of the plan, Mistress Ford agrees to meet Falstaff at her house. Time after time Falstaff is thwarted by the plots of the two ladies. Meanwhile Master Ford suspects his wife of cheating and attempts to catch the pair in the act. Hijinks occur and we learn that housewives should never be underestimated; Husbands should trust their wives; and young people should be allowed to love who they want.

One of the most astonishing realizations for me was knowing that this cast was the same from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I'm someone who cannot remember what I ordered for lunch the day before. To watch the same cast play completely different characters and not just small characters, but prominent characters with completely different tones and looks. (Knowledge time with Kim: in theater terms this is called "en repertoire," which can be described as a modern day set list. Fully understanding that this is how it was done back in the day, it is still amazing to watch with this realization). It must be difficult to perform shows in repertoire, but these folks are professionals and you'd never suspect that this cast was dual rolling it on opposite days.

My first thought when I saw Warren Kelley enter as Master Ford was "oh that's Atticus Finch and at least he has a wife now." As the story progresses, Master Ford disguises himself as the bongo beating and flamenco dancing Master Brook. I was laughing out loud along with the rest of the audience at the absurdity of it all. Warren Kelley is not only a serious and dramatic Atticus Finch, but a hysterical comedic actor. His physicality and facial expressions are top notch. In the role of Master Ford, Kelley really shows his versatility.

Mistress Page (Suzanne O'Donnell) and Mistress Ford (Jean Tafler) embody the perfect 1950's housewives. Don't let these Real Housewives of Shakespearean Times fool you. Their sing songy ways are a cover for the manipulating the men around them. Suzanne O'Donnell's Mistress Page is the planner of the pair who comes equipped with martinis. Jean Tafler's Mistress Ford reminds me of Lucille Ball, but is not clumsy, unless she is cornered. Tafler and O'Donnell make a great comedic pair.

John Falstaff and his crew are portrayed as war veterans returning to America after conquest. John Ahlin plays Falstaff as a slimy old man. His MOCKINGBIRD character also was a dirty old man, but the two characters could not be any more different. Ahlin is another great physical actor who milked the scenes that poked fun at Falstaff's weight. This is another top actor that shows his versatility between two different roles.

I love the bright colors and the vintage costumes that set the scene. The set includes a soda shop, 1950's furniture in the houses, and even an old dentist chair. MERRY WIVES and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD both run in the Margeson Theater, yet the stage is completely transformed from one show to another. Kudos to the stage crew who must have their work cut out for them. I have no idea how they are able to change the stage so quickly.

The director, Brian Vaughn, did a fantastic job making choices that helped this modern-day audience understand the Shakespeare. Shakespeare jokes are funny only if you understand them and even more so when they are delivered properly. There is a nice balance of physical comedy within this play. The humor was magnified by the facial expressions of the cast. I don't think Shakespeare ever envisioned Master Ford dressed in a flamenco costume as his disguise, but it totally worked.

If you actually want to laugh at a Shakespearean comedy, do not miss this production. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR runs at Orlando Shakespeare until March 7, 2015. For tickets and more information visit www.orlandoshakes.org.

Photo Credit: Tony Firriolo/ Orlando Shakespeare Theater

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