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Overview
Synopsis
The boozing and boorish Sir John Falstaff (from Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part One and Henry IV Part Two) is in Windsor looking to have fun. But he’s running out of money, and so hatches a plot to woo a wealthy wife away from her husband and get her money. But instead of sending a love letter to just one woman, he sends identical letters to two: Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford. The women learn about Falstaff’s dishonorable intentions, and set out to humiliate him appropriately. At the same time, several local men are vying for the hand of Anne Page, the proprietor of the local tavern hangout plays practical jokes on various citizens, and the children of the city join in a masque to scare Falstaff. A play full of witty characters, language and word play, and practical jokes against Falstaff, The Merry Wives of Windsor is a lovely romp with a delightfully happy ending.
Show Information
- Book
- William Shakespeare
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1602
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Windsor, England, 14th century
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Late Teen, Child, Early Teen Characters
Context
The Merry Wives of Windsor, first written around 1597, has a strange origin. According to historical accounts, Elizabeth I enjoyed the character of Sir John Falstaff in the Henry IV plays so much that she wanted to see him onstage again. Rather than write more about royalty, Shakespeare created a “comedy of manners”-style farce for the companion of King Henry IV and Prince Hal. Using Falstaff’s boozing and cheating character traits as inspiration, the knight wreaks havoc on the town of
to read the context for The Merry Wives of Windsor and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Outside Mr. Page’s house in Windsor, Justice Shallow, his cousin Slender, and Parson Hugh Evans gather. They are ready to confront Sir John Falstaff, a local knight who has insulted Shallow: “You have beaten my men, killed my deer, and broke open my lodge.” What’s more, Falstaff’s followers (Bardolph, Pistol, and Nym) drank with Slender at a local tavern and when he was drunk, the three robbed him. Falstaff admits to being a scoundrel, even though his men deny doing anything wrong.
to read the plot for The Merry Wives of Windsor and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Female |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Featured |
Male |
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Featured |
Male |
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Featured |
Male |
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Ensemble |
Either Gender |
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Songs
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
Scenes
Key Terms
To dance with joy, to leap with delight
Scorn, rebuke, or reprove
A type of comedy popular in the English Renaissance, set within London with middle-class characters and domestic conflicts.
Cheat
A man whose wife has cheated on him.
The Queen of England from 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the monarch for most of Shakespeare's playwriting career.
Referring to life in England under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 1558-1603.
Temperament, mood
A scoundrel; a young man or boy; a servant
Formal request
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress