Welcome to Windsor

Bob Hall, with tongue firmly in cheek, has announced that Flatwater's upcoming production marks a radical change. The Flatwater Shakespeare Company has distinguished itself with a series of modern-dress and alternative-period productions, including last year’s "Spaghetti Western" The Taming of the Shrew, but this version of The Merry Wives of Windsor will actually make use of Renaissance costumes and music. The play is Shakespeare’s only purely contemporary comedy, set in England. It is also incredible fun.

While Sir John Falstaff makes repeated overtures to the Merry Wives, more complications arise when Meg and George Page have different ideas about the best match for their daughter Anne. Shakespeare then adds several of Falstaff’s companions from the Henry IV plays, a Welsh parson and a French doctor both worthy of Monty Python, and an innkeeper given to grand talk and grander jokes. The combination has delivered a night of sheer, hilarious entertainment to audiences for over 400 years.

The production features Sasha Dobson as Mistress Alice Ford and Becky Key Boesen as Mistress Meg Page in the title roles. Joel Story plays the incorrigable Sir John. Dick Nielsen is the jealous Master Frank Ford and Stephen Buhler plays Master George Page. Other performers include Flatwater regulars Paden Alexander, Sam Colwell, Tom Crew, Robie Hayek, Melissa Lewis Nuss, Larry Mota, Elbert Traylor, and Nathan Weiss. Joining Flatwater for this show are Maggie Austin, Ryan Kathman, Chloe Nore, Trent Stork, Peter Swanke, Gage Wallace, and Bob Williams. Costumes are by Janice Stauffer, with set construction by Richard Imig and sound design by dramaturg Stephen Buhler.

Flatwater Shakespeare performs The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Bob Hall, in the open-air Swan Theatre at Wyuka Cemetery and Park, 3600 O Street in Lincoln, beginning Thurs., June 4, at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue Fri.-Sun., June 5-7; and Thurs.-Sun., June 11-14 and 18-21. All show times are 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students. Call 484-7640 for reservations.

(The photo shows Melissa Lewis Nuss as Mistress Quickly and Joel Story as Sir John Falstaff. Photo by John Nollendorfs.)