In the beautiful scenery of Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe, Nevada State Park, lies a stage set against perhaps one of the most spectacular backdrops in the country. This stage is home to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, which I was fortunate enough to experience last weekend. This summer they have two shows in repertory: “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “Always…Patsy Cline.” Although “The Merry Wives of Windsor” is one of Shakespeare’s less frequently performed plays, I find it just as fascinating as some of his more famous plays.
The show is thought to have been written for Queen Elizabeth I, who is said to have wanted Shakespeare to write a love story for Falstaff. In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff is more of an opportunist than a lover, but the play is full of humor, lust, and scheming. The lazy and greedy Falstaff has recently arrived at Windsor and, being short on funds, decides to try his luck at wooing two married women, Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page. He sends them each a love letter, and, tired of his advances, they quickly run to each other to share the letters. Upon discovering that the letters are identical, the women hatch a plan to teach Falstaff a lesson. These wives make merry at the expense of the very deserving Falstaff, subjecting him to hardship and humiliation (and a laundry basket) in order to get their attention. A nice subplot involves Anne Page and her desire to marry the man of her choice, Fenton. Her mother wants her to marry Dr. Caius, her father betroths her to the reluctant Abraham Slender, and with Shakespeare’s typical mix of mistaken identity and humour, it’s fun to watch how this all unfolds.
The magic of this production comes from the first-rate cast. Every actor brings something unique to their roles. Above all, they’re having fun, and that feeling is contagious. The wives, Madeline Curry King as Mrs. Ford and Ellen Grace Diehl as Mrs. Page, are perfect. They’re sassy, clever, and full of surprises. The object of their scorn, Sir John Falstaff, is played by Daniel T. Parker. He’s the epitome of lasciviousness and extravagance, and he embraces it all with thrill…you almost feel sorry for him. Almost. Anthony Michael Martinez’s Dr. Caius captivates with his physical comedy. He’s like Zorro meets Inigo Montoya. The rest of the cast is equally intoxicating to watch.
Being a purist, I appreciated the beautiful costumes by Daniel Tyler Matthews, which all have a nature-themed feel and partner colors that complement each other. The set design by Jeff Herman is clever, making use of the available space with functional pieces that change depending on the paintings hanging on the walls. Director Teri McMahon has created a fun, entertaining experience that celebrates human imperfections. The fact that it takes place in Lake Tahoe is also a plus.
The Merry Wives of Windsor runs at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival through Aug. 24. For more information and tickets, visit laketahoeshakespeare.com or call (800) 747-4697.
Photo courtesy: Strottz Photography
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