The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Gobe Theatre production of The Merry Wives of Windsor is the funniest of any Shakespeare play I have seen. This is in no small way due to the brilliant direction of Christopher Luscombe. This production was first performed at The Gobe in 2008, being revived this year before touring the UK (fortunately for us it visited Milton Keynes) and the USA before becoming a regular part of the Globe repertoire. It is the timing of the actors that brings out the comedy, many of the best lines are delivered straight to the audience.

The programme notes refer to how the play has much in common with modern TV sit-com. Andrew Havill who plays Frank Ford is a double for Basil Fawlty. The lighting is supreme, the costumes look great, the moving scenery perfect and the choreography spot on. I just cannot fault a single aspect. The ensemble acting was top drawer and it is hard to pick out any individual. But I will say that the two wives, Serena Evans as Meg Page and Sarah Woodward as Alice Ford are wonderful. A lot is due to the direction of their comic dual act, but they deliver their lines with clarity and panache.

I have also to mention the musicians, perched on top of the rotating set, they bring a sense of well being to their contribution. The musical number at the end brings the audience's applause to a rhythmic clapping as the company takes a bow to the final tune, whilst the two wives are left to say a last goodbye with a reprise of their gay pat-a-cake. Ingenious and a great end to a memorable evening.

P.S. That only leaves Coriolanus, Alls Well That Ends Well, Henry VIII and Two Gentleman of Verona left on my list of 34 Shakespeare plays to see. There are another six but they are so rarely performed, that I am not optimistic of seeing them.