A sure sign that summer is upon us, Bard On The Beach Shakespeare Festival has opened for another season -kicking things off with a slapstick, laugh-out-loud, Merry Wives of Windsor. Directed by Rebecca Northan and adapted with Bruce Horak, like many things this summer, the comedy takes on a soccer-centric edge.
Set in the fictional Vancouver neighbourhood of Windsor, and centred on the local Community Centre, overseen by the all-seeing, all-knowing Ms Quickly (played by the superb Steffanie Davis). The Merry Wives of Windsor follows the comings and goings of the centre’s patrons and team mates of its celebrated soccer team, the Windsor Stags.
Fresh off its big win, the Stags’ women’s team captain, Anne Page (played by Rachel Angco) is the most sought after single. Judge Robert Shallow (Anthony Santiago) arrives with his relative Slender (Sara Vickruck), who is smitten with Anne, but has been wronged out of their money by an earlier assault by John Falstaff. The Centre’s cocky Chiropractor ‘Dr’ Caius (Raf Rogers) also has his eyes set on Anne. Caius is the favoured suitor of Anne’s mother while Shallow and Mr Page (Munish Sharma) has set up Slender to be their preferred pick. However, Anne, much to her parents chagrin, has her heart set on the men’s team captain, the charming and honourable Fenton (Cameron Grant).
Amongst these romantic machinations, big man on campus – or so he thinks – John Falstaff, relies on his past glory days, which have long past. As played by Ashley Wright, the past-his-prime Falstaff is full of bravado and attention grabbing, for all the wrong reasons. With support from a cadre of simple minions he is about to set his sights too high. Always one to take the quick route and thinking himself ‘god’s gift’ Falstaff aims woo two of the communities wealthy wives away from their husbands and out of their fortunes. Both Mrs. Page, Anne’s mother, played by Jennifer Lines and Mrs. Ford, played by Melissa Oei learn they have received identical love letters, from Falstaff. Tempting as his offer may seem, the wives are not about to leave their husbands. Instead they set about ensnaring Falstaff in some subterfuge of their own.
The ensuing comedy of errors, misdirection, hidden identity and revenge with a dash of romance brings about fits of joyfully ridiculous laughs. Making quick work of the quick wit of the master wordsmith, the excellent cast of Bard stalwarts includes; Craig Erickson as Mr Ford, Jacob Leonard as Pistol (one of Falstaff’s lackies) and Community Centre handyman Rugby, Yoshie Bancroft as the Hostess of the local hangout, and Zaht Paroo as Evans the neighbourhood pothead.
On the creative team, Costume Designer Barbara Clayden’s pieces are often changed on the fly on stage as cast flip between characters and scenes. Amir Ofek’s set design is simple but perfectly portrays the feel of every community centre, the adaptable centre turntable is a brilliant piece of staging to allow it to hint at different locations with our imaginations filling in the rest. Packed with a pop soundtrack both listened to and sung by the players, Composer and Sound Designer Steve Charles and Choreographer & Intimacy Director Lisa Goebel work together to make the dream-like dance sequences and musical interludes perfectly fit into the 17th Century.
In rotation with Macbeth on The Bard on the Beach BMO Mainstage until September 19, 2026, the Merry Wives of Windsor is a perfect season-starting breeze of levity that plays into this Summer of Soccer.
For more information, showtimes and tickets visit bardonthebeach.org