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Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor
Pearce Quigley (Sir John Falstaff); Sarah Finigan (Mistress Page); Bryony Hannah (Mistress Ford); Richard Katz (Dr Caius / Pistol); Forbes Masson (George Page); Anita Reynolds (Mistress Quickly); Boadicea Ricketts (Anne Page / John Rugby); Jude Owusu (Frank Ford); Joshua Lacey (Abraham Slender / Robin); Hedydd Dylan (Sir Hugh Evans / Nym); Anne Odeke (Host / Peter Simple)
Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. But the ‘Merry Wives’ quickly cotton on to his tricks and decide to have a bit of fun of their own at Falstaff’s expense…
The Merry Wives of Windsor is the only comedy that Shakespeare set in his native land. Drawing influences from British 1930s fashion, music and dance, this production celebrates women, the power and beauty of nature, and with its witty mix of verbal and physical humour, rejoices in a tradition that reaches right down to the contemporary English sitcom.
Directed by Elle While (Hamlet, As You Like It), this production stars Olivier Award-nominated Bryony Hannah (Call the Midwife, The Children’s Hour) as Mistress Ford, Sarah Finigan (Suffragette, Upstart Crow, Globe on Tour) as Mistress Page, and Pearce Quigley (Detectorists, Hamlet, As You Like It) as Falstaff. The Windsor Locals appear courtesy of Soldiers’ Arts Academy, London Bubble and Clean Break. Spoken in Shakespeare’s English.
DVD
Genre: Theatre
Release Date: 29/03/2024
Sound Formats: Stereo
Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: EN
Catalogue Number: OA1353D
Artist(s):
Pearce Quigley; Sarah Finigan; Bryony Hannah; Richard Katz; Forbes Masson; Anita Reynolds; Boadicea Ricketts; Jude Owusu; Joshua Lacey; Hedydd Dylan; Anne Odeke
Pearce Quigley; Sarah Finigan; Bryony Hannah; Richard Katz; Forbes Masson; Anita Reynolds; Boadicea Ricketts; Jude Owusu; Joshua Lacey; Hedydd Dylan; Anne Odeke
"... this 1930s-set production directed by Elle While wisely embraces its fluffiness and proves a popular crowd-pleaser.
The 1930s setting proves more of a stylistic than thematic choice. Notably it allows for a lively jazz score (composed by Frank Moon), culminating in a joyous flapper jig. The production also pays homage to the silent-movie era as well as vaudeville, with the ‘fairy’ taunting of Falstaff proving a riot of colour.
Quigley is supremely entertaining in the central role, his smoking jacket and straggly hair lending Falstaff an enjoyable air of loucheness. " (The Stage ★★★)
"Jealousy and lechery divert the idle rich in Elle While’s production of the Shakespeare romcom" (The Guardian)
"Pearce Quigley cuts a wonderfully rumpled, Eeyore-ish figure as Falstaff. This sad-eyed, sarcastic, northern-accented outsider is quite different from the debauched rabble rouser we may be used to, but it is an inspired take on the role." (WhatsOn Stage)
"a lot to like about this production. And judging by the audience's reaction last night, they weren't disappointed by what they saw on stage." (Broadway World)
"Like fighting fire with fire, the Globe has taken Shakespeare’s silliest comedy and made it even sillier... Pearce Quigley’s Falstaff is a dream" (The Times)
"The highlight of this production (well, it was never going to be the risible-in-the-wrong-sense plot) is undoubtedly Pearce Quigley’s central performance. He’s not the jovial, boozing Falstaff stereotype: instead, he’s hilariously dour and mournful, a sad sack of a man who’s emptied of his last shred of dignity by the title’s conniving Merry Wives. He becomes the butt of Shakespeare’s humour for his repeated attempts to try it on with wily Mistresses Ford and Page, but Quigley just looks like he just needs a good hug. " (Time Out)
The 1930s setting proves more of a stylistic than thematic choice. Notably it allows for a lively jazz score (composed by Frank Moon), culminating in a joyous flapper jig. The production also pays homage to the silent-movie era as well as vaudeville, with the ‘fairy’ taunting of Falstaff proving a riot of colour.
Quigley is supremely entertaining in the central role, his smoking jacket and straggly hair lending Falstaff an enjoyable air of loucheness. " (The Stage ★★★)
"Jealousy and lechery divert the idle rich in Elle While’s production of the Shakespeare romcom" (The Guardian)
"Pearce Quigley cuts a wonderfully rumpled, Eeyore-ish figure as Falstaff. This sad-eyed, sarcastic, northern-accented outsider is quite different from the debauched rabble rouser we may be used to, but it is an inspired take on the role." (WhatsOn Stage)
"a lot to like about this production. And judging by the audience's reaction last night, they weren't disappointed by what they saw on stage." (Broadway World)
"Like fighting fire with fire, the Globe has taken Shakespeare’s silliest comedy and made it even sillier... Pearce Quigley’s Falstaff is a dream" (The Times)
"The highlight of this production (well, it was never going to be the risible-in-the-wrong-sense plot) is undoubtedly Pearce Quigley’s central performance. He’s not the jovial, boozing Falstaff stereotype: instead, he’s hilariously dour and mournful, a sad sack of a man who’s emptied of his last shred of dignity by the title’s conniving Merry Wives. He becomes the butt of Shakespeare’s humour for his repeated attempts to try it on with wily Mistresses Ford and Page, but Quigley just looks like he just needs a good hug. " (Time Out)
Pearce Quigley (Sir John Falstaff); Sarah Finigan (Mistress Page); Bryony Hannah (Mistress Ford); Richard Katz (Dr Caius / Pistol); Forbes Masson (George Page); Anita Reynolds (Mistress Quickly); Boadicea Ricketts (Anne Page / John Rugby); Jude Owusu (Frank Ford); Joshua Lacey (Abraham Slender / Robin); Hedydd Dylan (Sir Hugh Evans / Nym); Anne Odeke (Host / Peter Simple)
Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. But the ‘Merry Wives’ quickly cotton on to his tricks and decide to have a bit of fun of their own at Falstaff’s expense…
The Merry Wives of Windsor is the only comedy that Shakespeare set in his native land. Drawing influences from British 1930s fashion, music and dance, this production celebrates women, the power and beauty of nature, and with its witty mix of verbal and physical humour, rejoices in a tradition that reaches right down to the contemporary English sitcom.
Directed by Elle While (Hamlet, As You Like It), this production stars Olivier Award-nominated Bryony Hannah (Call the Midwife, The Children’s Hour) as Mistress Ford, Sarah Finigan (Suffragette, Upstart Crow, Globe on Tour) as Mistress Page, and Pearce Quigley (Detectorists, Hamlet, As You Like It) as Falstaff. The Windsor Locals appear courtesy of Soldiers’ Arts Academy, London Bubble and Clean Break. Spoken in Shakespeare’s English.
DVD
Genre: Theatre
Release Date: 29/03/2024
Sound Formats: Stereo
Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: EN
Catalogue Number: OA1353D
Artist(s):
Pearce Quigley; Sarah Finigan; Bryony Hannah; Richard Katz; Forbes Masson; Anita Reynolds; Boadicea Ricketts; Jude Owusu; Joshua Lacey; Hedydd Dylan; Anne Odeke
Pearce Quigley; Sarah Finigan; Bryony Hannah; Richard Katz; Forbes Masson; Anita Reynolds; Boadicea Ricketts; Jude Owusu; Joshua Lacey; Hedydd Dylan; Anne Odeke
"... this 1930s-set production directed by Elle While wisely embraces its fluffiness and proves a popular crowd-pleaser.
The 1930s setting proves more of a stylistic than thematic choice. Notably it allows for a lively jazz score (composed by Frank Moon), culminating in a joyous flapper jig. The production also pays homage to the silent-movie era as well as vaudeville, with the ‘fairy’ taunting of Falstaff proving a riot of colour.
Quigley is supremely entertaining in the central role, his smoking jacket and straggly hair lending Falstaff an enjoyable air of loucheness. " (The Stage ★★★)
"Jealousy and lechery divert the idle rich in Elle While’s production of the Shakespeare romcom" (The Guardian)
"Pearce Quigley cuts a wonderfully rumpled, Eeyore-ish figure as Falstaff. This sad-eyed, sarcastic, northern-accented outsider is quite different from the debauched rabble rouser we may be used to, but it is an inspired take on the role." (WhatsOn Stage)
"a lot to like about this production. And judging by the audience's reaction last night, they weren't disappointed by what they saw on stage." (Broadway World)
"Like fighting fire with fire, the Globe has taken Shakespeare’s silliest comedy and made it even sillier... Pearce Quigley’s Falstaff is a dream" (The Times)
"The highlight of this production (well, it was never going to be the risible-in-the-wrong-sense plot) is undoubtedly Pearce Quigley’s central performance. He’s not the jovial, boozing Falstaff stereotype: instead, he’s hilariously dour and mournful, a sad sack of a man who’s emptied of his last shred of dignity by the title’s conniving Merry Wives. He becomes the butt of Shakespeare’s humour for his repeated attempts to try it on with wily Mistresses Ford and Page, but Quigley just looks like he just needs a good hug. " (Time Out)
The 1930s setting proves more of a stylistic than thematic choice. Notably it allows for a lively jazz score (composed by Frank Moon), culminating in a joyous flapper jig. The production also pays homage to the silent-movie era as well as vaudeville, with the ‘fairy’ taunting of Falstaff proving a riot of colour.
Quigley is supremely entertaining in the central role, his smoking jacket and straggly hair lending Falstaff an enjoyable air of loucheness. " (The Stage ★★★)
"Jealousy and lechery divert the idle rich in Elle While’s production of the Shakespeare romcom" (The Guardian)
"Pearce Quigley cuts a wonderfully rumpled, Eeyore-ish figure as Falstaff. This sad-eyed, sarcastic, northern-accented outsider is quite different from the debauched rabble rouser we may be used to, but it is an inspired take on the role." (WhatsOn Stage)
"a lot to like about this production. And judging by the audience's reaction last night, they weren't disappointed by what they saw on stage." (Broadway World)
"Like fighting fire with fire, the Globe has taken Shakespeare’s silliest comedy and made it even sillier... Pearce Quigley’s Falstaff is a dream" (The Times)
"The highlight of this production (well, it was never going to be the risible-in-the-wrong-sense plot) is undoubtedly Pearce Quigley’s central performance. He’s not the jovial, boozing Falstaff stereotype: instead, he’s hilariously dour and mournful, a sad sack of a man who’s emptied of his last shred of dignity by the title’s conniving Merry Wives. He becomes the butt of Shakespeare’s humour for his repeated attempts to try it on with wily Mistresses Ford and Page, but Quigley just looks like he just needs a good hug. " (Time Out)
