Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival
by William Shakespeare
Venue: Bard on the Beach
Shakespeare Festival under the Tents in Vanier Park
Dates: 16 June - 25 September 2004
Reviewer: Jane Penistan
Director Dean Paul Gibson Set design David Roberts Costume design Mara Gottler Sound design /Composer Alessandro Juliani Fight director Nicholas Harrison Choreographer Peter Huck Lighting design Gerald King Stage Manager Stephen Courtney
Dean Paul Gibson ensures that everyone has an entertaining and mirthful time at Windsor. The citizens and their households are all involved in the machinations of Sir John Falstaff who is trying to repair his impecunious situation by seducing the wives of two respectable burghers, Master Page and Master Ford. In the meantime there are plots among the local worthies to promote a variety of suitors for the hand of pretty Anne, daughter of the Pages. The planning of these schemes takes place in the local hostelry, run by Mistress Quickly and her husband.
Both Mistress Ford and Mistress Page receive the same proposal from the once attractive roue Sir John, and share their amusement and scorn when they discover the duplicity. Together they delight in planning and performing their revenge on the old knight for his effrontery.
Master Page, affable generous host, trusting husband, and father of the desirable Ann is Andrew Wheeler. The paranoid and nervous Master Ford is deliciously played by David Marr. Their wives are Kerry Sandomirsky and the vivacious and charming Jennifer Lines. Lara Gilchrist is the not so dutiful daughter Anne Page.
The gentlemen seeking the hand of this attractive young woman are the volatile Dr. Caius, played with Gallic accent, exaggerated gesture and unpredictability by Scott Bellis, a marvelously funny cameo. Haig Sutherland is the diffident and uncertain Abraham Slender, hardly sure he wants to follow his uncle Justice Shallow's advice to wed this young woman. David Mackay is Anne's true love though disapproved of by her father. In the end the two elope and Anne and Fenton are forgiven and hope to live happily ever after.
The host of the Garter Inn is the accommodating Derek Metz, with his wife, and Dr. Caius' housekeeper, Mistress Quickly. She is a voluble lady whose speeches are interminable, never boring and always delivered with crisp articulation and breathless speed. Colleen Wheeler keeps the audience enchanted with her comic and very clever performance.
Duncan Fraser is an imposing figure as Sir John Falstaff. Majestic and commanding, the old knight is still a mischievous and self seeking, though genial, gentleman of a former age. His misfortunes at the hands of the merry wives remain well deserved and very funny in their execution, but his real need for affection and compassion arouses the sympathy of all. As the central figure of the play, Falstaff maintains his fading authority and leadership qualities. His sense of humour is never lost and he is capable of laughing at himself with those who make fun of him. A great Falstaff.
The several citizens, servants, and Falstaff's cronies are all well and humourously played by various members of the company, who in the Windsor forest scene are masked to be the fairies and devils of Falstaff's final humiliation which he accepts with wry humour.
Gibson has elected to dress this production in 18th century opulence, which accords well with the relaxed behaviour and morals of both the late Elizabethan, and post Restoration age. The costumes are colourful and extravagant, especially those of the leading ladies, and elegant and becoming to all the gentry. Alessandro Juliani's music is pleasing and tuneful and enhances the production with its taste and charm. The management of the sword fights, the dancing and the ingenious stage business with the laundry basket all add to the enjoyment of this very merry production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. For an evening of laughter and fun there is no better.
The Merry Wives of Windsor runs at the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival under the Tents in Vanier Park June 16 - September 25, 2004, Tuesday - Friday at 8.00 p.m., some Saturdays at 8.30 p.m. and Sundays at 7.00 p.m. Matinees are on Saturdays at 4.00 p.m. and some Sundays at 1.00 p.m. until September 5, After September 7, evening performances will begin at 7.00 p.m. and matinees at 1.00 p.m. For more information, other productions and events, reservations and tickets call the Box Office at 604-739-0559 or visit www.bardonthebeach.org
© 2004, Jane Penistan