Theatre Review: The Merry Wives of Windsor

‘Better three hours too soon than a minute too late!’ Perhaps Shakespeare was exaggerating somewhat when he said this, but in the case of the RSC’s latest production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, it is delightfully accurate. If you weren’t already planning on attending, let me persuade you: it is a treat.

Enter chaos in suburbia: nice houses, nice lawn, nice country pub to welcome you in with a pint (or six), and a motley crew of spouses who, perhaps in their boredom, find the perfect excuse to take part in a spot of tomfoolery. It is quintessential Shakespearean comedy: Falstaff (beloved comic character from the Henry IV plays, here played by the bombastic and truly outstanding John Hodgkinson) takes a bit of a risk by sending the same love letter to two women. Unfortunately for him, these two women happen to be the absolute best of friends, and so tell each other immediately. Oh dear…trouble in paradise!

Quintessential Shakespearean comedy

And so begins an amusing charade of mix-ups, clever plots to confuse him, jealous husbands, and, of course, an annoying French doctor. Who doesn’t love poking fun at the French? Certainly Shakespeare is at the front of that queue here. Well, it makes for great comedy, and Jason Thorpe is a wonderfully charismatic Doctor Caius. With wit, half-Franglais translation fails, and an adept use of mispronunciations, he certainly has heaps to give to the part. His constant sparring with Welsh parson Sir Hugh Evans (Ian Hughes) is hilarious: what a duo they make. Equal parts ridiculous and thoughtful, I adored them.

The costume department and set design are another delight. The set transitions are made to look effortless; from pubs to greenery to little suburban houses, and even a haunted forest, it seems there are no lengths the amazing Robert Innes Hopkins will not go to in order to make this production spectacular. Without spoilers, it has to be said that if a costume alone can bring about peals of laughter, then you have certainly done well.

There are no lengths the amazing Robert Innes Hopkins will not go to in order to make this production spectacular

Interestingly, a key part of this play (in both the original text and this production) is its central female characters. Massive congratulations must go to Shazia Nicholls: her debut season at the RSC has been kicked off to an outstanding start as the ever-unreliable but ever-articulate Mistress Quickly. She brings real warmth to the role, as well as a knack for using tone and speed for effect in her performance. She is undoubtedly a talent with many good things to come.

By far the most wonderful dynamic is that of the two wives, the titular ‘Merry Wives’ Meg Page (Samantha Spiro) and Alice Ford (Siubhan Harrison). They have such a quick-witted ease with one another that you might well believe they really are best friends plotting against mad fools in real life. Spiro in particular is an absolute master of the stage. Her character is introduced alone, though you wouldn’t know it: from the first word she oozes charm, brilliance, and totally commands the space as her own. I was captivated. She brings such palpable enthusiasm to the character that you are swept along with her – in laundry baskets, on lush green sofas, and in cahoots with Mistress Meg.

[Spiro] oozes charm, brilliance, and totally commands the space as her own

This production takes you on a journey of codpieces, silly hats, amusing Shakespearean tattoos (see if you can spot this!), and, most importantly, beards concealed beneath elaborate headpieces. What more could you want? So, find yourself twenty lascivious turtles, some Banbury cheese, and head over to see this play, lest you find yourself becoming ‘as crest-fallen as a dried pear.’

(The Merry Wives of Windsor plays at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until Saturday 7th September.)