The Merry Wives of Windsor Tickets

Written by one of the most famed and loved writers of all time, The Merry Wives of Windsor is a play by William Shakespeare. The first ever  performance of the play was held in 1604 and since then, it has been produced numerous times. The Merry Wives of Windsor is often overlooked for some of Shakespeare's more popular works such as A Mid Summer Nights Dream or Macbeth. However, this play, both as the original text and a theater production, has enjoyed a loyal fan following and has seen some seminal performances in the past. While it might not be the most heavily and frequently produced plays from Shakespeare's repertory, it has been critically appreciated in the past for the quality and the entertainment value that it brings to the stage.

The Merry Wives of Windsor starts off with a knight by the name of John Falstaff who arrives in Windsor with little to his name. Impoverished, he invents a plan to end his monetary problems. The fat, lazy and entirely unappealing knight decides to court two of the wealthiest women in town as a way of gaining easy money. His two conquests, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page are already married but this doesn't seem to bother Falstaff, who is determined to see his plan through. He selects two of his servants to deliver two identical love letters to both women. Fired upon their refusal to deliver the letters, the servants exact revenge on Falstaff by telling his plans to both the husbands of the two women.

Meanwhile, both Mistress Page and Ford compare their letters and realize that the letter is the same. As a way of shaming Falstaff and entertaining themselves, they decide to play along and pretend that both are interested in him. At the same time, the husbands of the two merry wives, Mr. Page and Mr. Ford react in their own ways to the news. While Page doesn't give much importance to the possibility that Falstaff is trying to woo his wife, Ford gives in to his jealousy and devises his own plan. What follows is a series of comedic events where Falstaff is humiliated, bundled up with dirty laundry and thrown into a river.

Drawing on the themes of deception, jealousy, the human ego and love, The Merry Wives of Windsor is as Shakespearean as it gets. Disguises, crass comedy, class politics all feature prominently and the comedy is an instant mood-lifter. First produced and put on stage circa 1600, the play has become a cult classic and has been performed on stages all over the world.

Critics have been widely divided in their opinions of the play. While many consider the play to be one of Shakespeare's most underestimated plays, there are also those who think that the play is one of Shakespeare's weakest. The character of Falstaff is borrowed from Shakespeare's Henry series, and while the Falstaff of the Henry's is admirable, the Falstaff of Windsor is unlikable. However, despite the mixed critical reception that the play has received, the theater productions of the play have been widely liked and applauded.

Reviews of various productions of the play have been widely positive, with many publications dubbing the play as "highly recommended". Chicago On The Aisle calls the play "a complete delight." The Telegraph dubs it as "uproariously enjoyable." The Chicago Tribune reports that the play is "merry throughout." And the Chicagoland Theater Review reports that this is the "perfect show."

Over the years, companies such as Chicago Shakespeare Theater, American Shakespeare Center, the Professional Theatre Program of Dawson College, the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, the Oxford Shakespeare Company and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre have staged the play. This season, the play returns to the stage as various companies prepare to stage it for the upcoming season. The Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland is one of the places where the play will be performed.

A comedy that is sure to leave the audience in stitches, this play is perfect for everyone. Those looking for a high quality play can enjoy the witty genius of Shakespeare. This play is sure to make you crack a smile from the very beginning. To watch this season's productions of one of Shakespeare's more understated plays, purchase The Merry Wives of Windsor tickets today.