Merry Wives of Windsor (Ontario)
Cast List:
Anne Paige Katie Peavyhouse
Dr. Caius Maurice St. Germain
Fenton Jake Gee
Hostess* Christine Schoendorff*
Sister Evans* Stephanie Heslip*
Mr. Ford Gary Thames
Mr. Paige Thom Shae
Mrs. Ford Ashley Sala
Mrs. Page Candace Chapman
Ms. Quickly Bronson Sacker
Nym Falstaff Luke Chapman
Pistol Falstaff Xander Roisen
Robin Falstaff Jimmy Wirt
Jane Rugby* Heidi Kowynia*
Roberta Shallow* Sharon Altrogge*
Simple* Grace Chapman*
Sir John Falstaff Chad Bondie
Ricky Stratton Slender Charlie Kingsley
Fairy Queen Kim Bakker
Fairy Mallory Schoendorff
“Golden Girls”
Blanch (John)* Dory O'Dell*
Dorothy** Kathy Peavyhouse**
Rose (Robert)* Courtney Bakker*
Sofia** Melissa Roisen**
Woodland Creatures
Dory, Courtney, Grace, Jimmy, Kathy, Melissa,
* Denotes male roles changed to female.
** Denotes new characters.
Sir John Falstaff “The Con Man”
Consistent with the image of the ne'er-do-well companion of Prince Hal (later to be Henry V) in several of Shakespeare's history plays, the Falstaff of The Merry Wives of Windsor is self-consciously pompous and eloquent, self-pitying when the occasion arises, and always ready to exploit anyone — man or woman — to achieve his desired ends. His appetites and his humor are as large as his enormous belly, and it is fitting that when he makes a fool of himself, as he does no less than three times in this play, his folly looms larger than that of the rest of the company combined. In order to secure his financial position and also to indulge his sexual fancy, he makes romantic overtures to the "merry wives" of Windsor, Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford. They dupe him again and again: first, they stuff him into a "buck-basket" full of ill-smelling linens and then have him dumped into the Thames River; then, they disguise him as the fat "witch of Brainford," who is hated by Mr. Ford, who beats him black and blue; and finally, they trick him into playing the part of "Herne the Hunter," a ghost who haunts Windsor Park with great ragged horns on his head. In the last disguise, Falstaff is surprised by the entire company and is made the butt of their jokes. He admits to being "made an ass" in the very last scene and is welcomed to join the group to "laugh this sport o'er by a country fire."
Fenton, a Young Gentleman “The Bad Boy”
Master Fenton is the well-born but impecunious rightful lover in this romantic farce. He successfully pursues young Anne Page over the objections of both her mother and her father. The play ends fittingly just after he announces their secret wedding. His bride has married him in defiance of her parents.
Shallow, a Country Justice “The Wealthy Relative”
Shallow's main part in the action, aside from swearing to be revenged on Falstaff, is to propose and encourage the courtship of Anne Page by his nephew, Slender.
Slender, Nephew to Shallow “The Valley Boy”
Slender's name describes his wit. He is one of Anne Page's unlikely suitors who prefers talking trash to courting women. At his uncle's insistence, he makes several awkward romantic overtures to Anne, deluding even himself into thinking that he's in love with her, before the whole enterprise founders. (He’s also a closeted gay in our production.)
Ford, a Citizen of Windsor “The Suspicious Husband”
("Brook," in disguise) Ford is a man of property who can be "mad as a mad dog" when jealousy overtakes him. Disguised as Brook, he pays Falstaff handsomely to compromise "Ford's" wife, but on both occasions, Mrs. Ford has the laugh on both Falstaff and on her husband. In the end, Ford admits his folly ("Pardon me, wife") and joins her in humiliating Falstaff in the final Herne-the-Hunter episode.
Page, a Citizen of Windsor “The Trusting Husband”
Page is more reasonable than his friend Ford in every respect but one. Though he can see through his friend's jealousy, he cannot see the folly in his own choice of a husband for his daughter Anne. Refusing to consider Fenton as a possibility because Fenton has no property or money, Page favors Slender. His values are stolidly middle class; but for Shakespeare, who came from the same middle class himself, Page's good sense finally prevails over his property instincts, and he consents (after the fact) to the wedding of Anne and Fenton.
Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh Parson “The Overly Pious”
Falstaff aptly hits on Evan’s outrageous accent as the most interesting feature of this character when he says that Evans "makes fritters of English." This remark is in response to Sir Hugh's line, typically in dialect: "Seese is not goot to give putter. Your pelly is all putter.": (Cheese is not good to give butter; your belly is all butter.)
Doctor Caius, a French Physician “The Snob”
Another practitioner of fractured English (e.g., "If dere be one, or two, I shall make a de turd" ["third"]), Doctor Caius is Hugh Evans' chief antagonist. A revenger's subplot ensues when Caius learns that Hugh Evans is aiding Slender and Shallow in pursuit of Anne Page, a woman whom Caius himself fancies. Engineered by the Host of the Garter, a duel between these two is set to take place — in different locations. The Host, and the audience, would rather hear them argue than see them fight anyway. As retribution, Evans and Caius plan to seek joint revenge on the Host for this trick.
The Host of the Garter Inn “The Trickster”
The Host's chief motivation seems to be to enjoy himself. He babbles endlessly to all around him while engineering such schemes as the abortive duel between Doctor Caius and Sir Hugh Evans. However, he too finds himself tricked by the end of the play.
Pistol and Nym “The Meddlesome Kids/Relatives”
Their attitudes toward one another seem to be ones of mutual contempt, for they betray each other at every turn. They are asked by Falstaff to aid in his deception. They not only refuse to do this, they are instrumental in the conning of the con-man himself.
Simple, Servant to Slender “The Surfer/Stoner Dude”
Even stupider than his master, Simple is usually the yo-yo of other people's witticisms.
Rugby
A servant to Dr. Caius
Mistress Ford “The Devoted Wife”
Reasonably cautious at first, Mrs. Ford soon decides not only to teach Falstaff a lesson for his outrageous presumption in trying to seduce her, but also to irritate her jealous husband and to expose his foolishness. At the end of the play, this "merry wife" reaffirms her marriage on the basis of trust, thereby creating a second reason for celebrating Fenton and Anne Page's nuptials.
Mistress Page “The Instigator”
Mrs. Page has the luxury of material comfort, a trusting husband, and lovely children Her sense of morality is outraged by fat John Falstaff's proposals, and she sets out with her partner, Mrs. Ford, to expose Falstaff as a lecher and a fraud. Yet Mrs. Page has a blind spot: she prefers the advantages which highly placed social connections can give her and believes that her daughter, Anne Page, should marry Doctor Caius. Anne's opinion of the Frenchman is clear: "I had rather be set quick i' th' earth, / And bowled to death with turnips." The audience, of course, concurs and is happy that Mrs. Page can finally see the rightness of her daughter's marriage to Fenton.
Anne Page “The Popular Girl”
Anne is the conventional beautiful maiden at the core of a romantic comedy. She adds her mother's pluck and forthrightness to her physical attributes, resists her parents' choice of suitors, and finally has her way with her male counterpart, Fenton.
Mistress Quickly “The Sly Matchmaker”
Mistress Quickly, the talkative and meddlesome servant of Doctor Caius, uses her intimate friendship with Anne Page to turn a profit. She promotes all comers who think they have a hope of successfully wooing Anne Page. Quickly is as apt to misuse the English language as the Frenchman or Welshman are in the play, and she also provides some comedy in her penchant for obscene puns. It is especially amusing that she should play the part of the delicate Fairy Queen in the climactic "masque scene."
Robin “The Innocent child”
Youngest child of Falstaff wishing only to be helpful
Woodland Creatures "The wild ones"
A band of kids out to "outwit" the con man and scare him honest. Kids ages 8-13
Cast List:
Anne Paige Katie Peavyhouse
Dr. Caius Maurice St. Germain
Fenton Jake Gee
Hostess* Christine Schoendorff*
Sister Evans* Stephanie Heslip*
Mr. Ford Gary Thames
Mr. Paige Thom Shae
Mrs. Ford Ashley Sala
Mrs. Page Candace Chapman
Ms. Quickly Bronson Sacker
Nym Falstaff Luke Chapman
Pistol Falstaff Xander Roisen
Robin Falstaff Jimmy Wirt
Jane Rugby* Heidi Kowynia*
Roberta Shallow* Sharon Altrogge*
Simple* Grace Chapman*
Sir John Falstaff Chad Bondie
Ricky Stratton Slender Charlie Kingsley
Fairy Queen Kim Bakker
Fairy Mallory Schoendorff
“Golden Girls”
Blanch (John)* Dory O'Dell*
Dorothy** Kathy Peavyhouse**
Rose (Robert)* Courtney Bakker*
Sofia** Melissa Roisen**
Woodland Creatures
Dory, Courtney, Grace, Jimmy, Kathy, Melissa,
* Denotes male roles changed to female.
** Denotes new characters.
Sir John Falstaff “The Con Man”
Consistent with the image of the ne'er-do-well companion of Prince Hal (later to be Henry V) in several of Shakespeare's history plays, the Falstaff of The Merry Wives of Windsor is self-consciously pompous and eloquent, self-pitying when the occasion arises, and always ready to exploit anyone — man or woman — to achieve his desired ends. His appetites and his humor are as large as his enormous belly, and it is fitting that when he makes a fool of himself, as he does no less than three times in this play, his folly looms larger than that of the rest of the company combined. In order to secure his financial position and also to indulge his sexual fancy, he makes romantic overtures to the "merry wives" of Windsor, Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford. They dupe him again and again: first, they stuff him into a "buck-basket" full of ill-smelling linens and then have him dumped into the Thames River; then, they disguise him as the fat "witch of Brainford," who is hated by Mr. Ford, who beats him black and blue; and finally, they trick him into playing the part of "Herne the Hunter," a ghost who haunts Windsor Park with great ragged horns on his head. In the last disguise, Falstaff is surprised by the entire company and is made the butt of their jokes. He admits to being "made an ass" in the very last scene and is welcomed to join the group to "laugh this sport o'er by a country fire."
Fenton, a Young Gentleman “The Bad Boy”
Master Fenton is the well-born but impecunious rightful lover in this romantic farce. He successfully pursues young Anne Page over the objections of both her mother and her father. The play ends fittingly just after he announces their secret wedding. His bride has married him in defiance of her parents.
Shallow, a Country Justice “The Wealthy Relative”
Shallow's main part in the action, aside from swearing to be revenged on Falstaff, is to propose and encourage the courtship of Anne Page by his nephew, Slender.
Slender, Nephew to Shallow “The Valley Boy”
Slender's name describes his wit. He is one of Anne Page's unlikely suitors who prefers talking trash to courting women. At his uncle's insistence, he makes several awkward romantic overtures to Anne, deluding even himself into thinking that he's in love with her, before the whole enterprise founders. (He’s also a closeted gay in our production.)
Ford, a Citizen of Windsor “The Suspicious Husband”
("Brook," in disguise) Ford is a man of property who can be "mad as a mad dog" when jealousy overtakes him. Disguised as Brook, he pays Falstaff handsomely to compromise "Ford's" wife, but on both occasions, Mrs. Ford has the laugh on both Falstaff and on her husband. In the end, Ford admits his folly ("Pardon me, wife") and joins her in humiliating Falstaff in the final Herne-the-Hunter episode.
Page, a Citizen of Windsor “The Trusting Husband”
Page is more reasonable than his friend Ford in every respect but one. Though he can see through his friend's jealousy, he cannot see the folly in his own choice of a husband for his daughter Anne. Refusing to consider Fenton as a possibility because Fenton has no property or money, Page favors Slender. His values are stolidly middle class; but for Shakespeare, who came from the same middle class himself, Page's good sense finally prevails over his property instincts, and he consents (after the fact) to the wedding of Anne and Fenton.
Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh Parson “The Overly Pious”
Falstaff aptly hits on Evan’s outrageous accent as the most interesting feature of this character when he says that Evans "makes fritters of English." This remark is in response to Sir Hugh's line, typically in dialect: "Seese is not goot to give putter. Your pelly is all putter.": (Cheese is not good to give butter; your belly is all butter.)
Doctor Caius, a French Physician “The Snob”
Another practitioner of fractured English (e.g., "If dere be one, or two, I shall make a de turd" ["third"]), Doctor Caius is Hugh Evans' chief antagonist. A revenger's subplot ensues when Caius learns that Hugh Evans is aiding Slender and Shallow in pursuit of Anne Page, a woman whom Caius himself fancies. Engineered by the Host of the Garter, a duel between these two is set to take place — in different locations. The Host, and the audience, would rather hear them argue than see them fight anyway. As retribution, Evans and Caius plan to seek joint revenge on the Host for this trick.
The Host of the Garter Inn “The Trickster”
The Host's chief motivation seems to be to enjoy himself. He babbles endlessly to all around him while engineering such schemes as the abortive duel between Doctor Caius and Sir Hugh Evans. However, he too finds himself tricked by the end of the play.
Pistol and Nym “The Meddlesome Kids/Relatives”
Their attitudes toward one another seem to be ones of mutual contempt, for they betray each other at every turn. They are asked by Falstaff to aid in his deception. They not only refuse to do this, they are instrumental in the conning of the con-man himself.
Simple, Servant to Slender “The Surfer/Stoner Dude”
Even stupider than his master, Simple is usually the yo-yo of other people's witticisms.
Rugby
A servant to Dr. Caius
Mistress Ford “The Devoted Wife”
Reasonably cautious at first, Mrs. Ford soon decides not only to teach Falstaff a lesson for his outrageous presumption in trying to seduce her, but also to irritate her jealous husband and to expose his foolishness. At the end of the play, this "merry wife" reaffirms her marriage on the basis of trust, thereby creating a second reason for celebrating Fenton and Anne Page's nuptials.
Mistress Page “The Instigator”
Mrs. Page has the luxury of material comfort, a trusting husband, and lovely children Her sense of morality is outraged by fat John Falstaff's proposals, and she sets out with her partner, Mrs. Ford, to expose Falstaff as a lecher and a fraud. Yet Mrs. Page has a blind spot: she prefers the advantages which highly placed social connections can give her and believes that her daughter, Anne Page, should marry Doctor Caius. Anne's opinion of the Frenchman is clear: "I had rather be set quick i' th' earth, / And bowled to death with turnips." The audience, of course, concurs and is happy that Mrs. Page can finally see the rightness of her daughter's marriage to Fenton.
Anne Page “The Popular Girl”
Anne is the conventional beautiful maiden at the core of a romantic comedy. She adds her mother's pluck and forthrightness to her physical attributes, resists her parents' choice of suitors, and finally has her way with her male counterpart, Fenton.
Mistress Quickly “The Sly Matchmaker”
Mistress Quickly, the talkative and meddlesome servant of Doctor Caius, uses her intimate friendship with Anne Page to turn a profit. She promotes all comers who think they have a hope of successfully wooing Anne Page. Quickly is as apt to misuse the English language as the Frenchman or Welshman are in the play, and she also provides some comedy in her penchant for obscene puns. It is especially amusing that she should play the part of the delicate Fairy Queen in the climactic "masque scene."
Robin “The Innocent child”
Youngest child of Falstaff wishing only to be helpful
Woodland Creatures "The wild ones"
A band of kids out to "outwit" the con man and scare him honest. Kids ages 8-13