Lindenwood bringing Shakespearean comedy to the stage in 1950s setting
Photo by James Tananan Kamnuedkhun
Lindenwood hosts The Merry Wives of Windsor in the J. Scheidegger Center.
December 6, 2019
Lindenwood’s Theatre Department is testing its comedic chops with its interpretation of William Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Donna Northcott, an associate professor in the Theatre Department, is the director of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Northcott said she is typically the go-to person in charge of directing various Shakespeare plays.
Playwright William Shakespeare is believed to have originally wrote The Merry Wives of Windsor before 1597. Although the original Shakespeare play was first published in 1602, Northcott’s interpretation of the play will be set in the 1950s, but she assures the content will still be the same.
“The intentions of the characters, the language and the humor hasn’t changed because it is universal,” Northcott said. “[The jokes] are still funny.”
Lindenwood hosts The Merry Wives of Windsor in the J. Scheidegger Center.
The story takes place in the town of Windsor in Berkshire, England, where Sir John Falstaff romantically pursues two married women, Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. Falstaff is hoping to take advantage of these women for their rich husbands’ money. After both women find out that Falstaff has been writing them identical love letters, they decide to get even with Falstaff.
Northcott compares the play to the 1950s sitcom “I Love Lucy” with the Mistress Ford and Page playing pranks on their husbands and Falstaff.
“I hope they’re [the audience] going to be laughing,” Northcott said. “It’s just a lightweight, ridiculous comedy and something for the end of the year and the holidays.”
The Merry Wives of Windsor will be shown for three nights only from Dec. 5 to Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lindenwood Theater at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts.
“I know some people can feel a little intimidated or overwhelmed by Shakespeare,” Northcott said. “It’s a very clear, understandable story.”
Lindenwood students will receive two free tickets to any performance. The admission price for all other attendees will range from $10-$18. Tickets can be purchased at the Lindenwood Box Office or LUBoxOffice.com. Call (636) 949-4433 for more information.
