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Overview

Synopsis

The fat, old knight, Falstaff, seeks to seduce two married women in order to steal some money, and have a little fun. Alice and Meg receive the letters of invitation, shocked that the fat, old man would expect them to swoon, and amused because they have both received the exact same letter. Seeking to punish Falstaff, they plan to make a fool of him, letting him think, for a while, that they have accepted. Ford, Alice’s husband, discovers Falstaff’s plan, but is not in on the prank that Alice is plotting, therefore believing himself to be betrayed. As multiple plots coincide, Falstaff is at the center of the chaos and mixed communication. Hilariously, all come together against Falstaff and succeed in making him a fool, and showing him the wrong in his ways. They all laugh together in the end, and declare that “he who laughs last, laughs best.”

Show Information

Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1893
Genres
Comedy, Farce
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
between 1399-1413
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
None
Ideal For
Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Sir John Falstaff

Lead

Male

Baritone

Ford

Lead

Male

Baritone

Alice Ford

Lead

Female

Soprano

Quickly

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Nannetta

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Fenton

Supporting

Female

Tenor

Meg Page

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Dottor Cajus

Featured

Male

Tenor

Bardolfo

Featured

Male

Tenor

Pistola

Featured

Male

Bass

Coro

Ensemble

Either Gender

Songs

Act I

  • Parte prima (Dottor Cajus, Bardolfo, Pistola, Falstaff)
  • Parte seconda (Alice, Nannetta, Meg, Quickly, Ford, Fenton, Dottor Cajus, Bardolfo, Pistola)

Act II

  • Parte prima (Bardolfo, Pistola, Falstaff, Quickly, Ford)
  • Parte seconda (Alice, Meg, Quickly, Nannetta, Falstaff, Ford, Bardolfo, Pistola, Fenton, Dottor Cajus, Coro)

Act III

  • Parte prima (Falstaff, Quickly, Alice, Nannetta, Ford, Dottor Cajus, Meg, Fenton)
  • Parte seconda (Fenton, Nannetta, Alice, Meg, Quickly, Falstaff, Bardolfo, Pistola, Ford, Dottor Cajus, Coro)

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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