Seattle Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy about how two wives in Windsor outsmart Falstaff, a celebrity knight who attempts to court both of them by sending them the same exact letter. The play has a beautiful fall-themed set crawling with leaves and pumpkins, created by Scenic Designer Eddie DeHais. The section of the stage that is the Garter Inn is stunning. It’s a combination of a tiki bar and lodge, with glimmering pots and pans above the bar and a pride flag on the counter.
The play begins with a musical number (Kataka Corn as Music Designer) starring Falstaff in a haze of red light and smoke, wearing a jacket designed by Katrina Hess and emblazoned with “Falstaff World Tour 1981.” Now there’s a merch idea. This bold entrance is backed with the pre recorded sound of an audience cheering and booing. This actually encourages the real audience to cheer and boo as well. This was an ingenious decision by Sound Designer Evan Mosher to encourage audience participation in Shakespeare plays.
A particularly poignant scene in the play is the last song in the first act. It acts as a summary and a montage. In one corner of the stage, Anne Page is sitting with Pistol and starting to fall in love with him. In the other, George Page and Meg Page are sitting shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the sky. Then, the Fords are sitting apart silently, on their phone and computer. This was an effective way to show the relationships happening between the characters and how they are feeling at this point in the play. The characters on stage are singing together, but the main event is Alice Ford (played by Mari Nelson) with her extraordinary belting and vocal range. It was a clever decision to feature Alice Ford because in the second act, she becomes one of the main characters. The song and acting done at the end of the first act feels like a tribute to the traditional usage of song and dance in Shakespeare plays, while also summarizing and advancing the plot.
Brandon Felker’s performance as Simple was unique and authentic. Simple is Falstaff’s unreliable crony and after delivering the letters to Alice and Meg, he becomes their ally and helps prank Falstaff. He struggles to use Google Maps and he looks like someone you would run into at a record store. Through a combination of Brandon Felker’s acting and Simple’s costume design, he just seems like a normal guy in 2023 in a way that is disarming and endearing. Simple’s modernized character felt very organic in this Shakespeare adaptation. The same is for Quickly, who is played by Vincent Milay. In Seattle Shakespeare’s adaptation, he’s gay and ends up paired up with Dr. Caius. Quickly is the likable host at the Garter Inn and he acts as a messenger and a confidant. In Seattle Shakespeare’s adaptation, Quickly and Dr. Caius flirt together in the first act, so the two together in the end feels like a satisfactory ending.
Some other outstanding performances are by Jasmine Joshua. They are in high heels, singing, dancing, and thrusting in their role as Falstaff. There is also the chemistry between Alice Ford and Meg Page (played by Joyce Thi Brew). The two conspire with each other and celebrate their successes, while also rebuilding Alice’s marriage. Alice is less happy in her marriage to George Ford than Meg Page is to her husband, therefore George Page is suspicious of Alice cheating on him with Falstaff. However, through Alice and Meg’s quick thinking, they were able to prank Falstaff and evade George’s suspicions. In the end, George and Alice are closer due to it.
Seattle Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor was entertaining and a joy to see. It is a feel-good play about two wives who get payback and a community coming together for it. There is music and laughter and most importantly, happy endings. Well done to co-directors Eddie DeHais Corey McDaniel.
The Merry Wives of Windsor, Seattle Shakespeare Company. Center Theatre at Seattle Center. 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109. November 3-November 19, 2023.
Tickets: https://seattleshakespeare.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0S8Z00000EW6uMUAT