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The Merry Wives of Windsor |
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Purchase the "Merry Wives, The Musical"
CD
Click here to listen to the MP3 Format
Audio Clip of Recorded live in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. A cast
recording of the music from Soundtrack Listing
Thanks to David T, UK, for bringing
this to my attention
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news/video/69000/nb/69436_16x9_nb.asx Thanks to Pauline, UK, for bringing this to my attention
Connie E's Account of the Play ... Merry Wives Catastrophe Monday, December 4, 2006
If I were a tabloid reporter, I would headline that there was a
near disaster at Stratford-upon-Avon on December 4. In truth it
was lucky that no one was hurt. Judi makes her entrance on a
moving set with her and another actor on it that represents her
kitchen. As the scenery was rolling in we heard a crunch and
then heard and saw wood splitting. Since there haven't been
photos of Judi in her wig and costume, I didn't realize that it
was she being splashed by the liquid in the frying pan. We all
knew that the set didn't come all the way onto the stage. Judi
seemed unsure what to do and said a few lines that were sort of
in the play but weren't. People laughed and gave her a round of
applause as she exited and the stage manager entered and
explained that for obvious safety reasons they would have to
stop the play for a few minutes. They pulled it together very
quickly (maybe 5 minutes) and resumed. Since we hadn't seen it
before, we don't know what pieces of scenery exactly we weren't
seeing for the rest of the play. Since the frying pan became a
fire later in the scene once the play resumed, there had to be a
flammable liquid in it. It was very lucky that both actors
seemed to be OK as there was potential for danger in what
happened, although the RSC, I'm sure, is used to handling
flammable liquids and wayward sets.
A Special Thank You to Connie for
sharing this with us Our very first account of this play from Carolyn T ... Saturday, December 2, 2006 Chris- I have just got in after attending the opening night of "Merry Wives of Windsor" here in Stratford. It really is a tremendous show and as usual Judi was magnificent. She doesn't have all that big a part as Mistress Quickly but she sang about 4 songs. The last one was a beautiful ballad called Honeysuckle Villain. I hope that she will record it! I met her briefly afterwards at the stage door and she was her charming self. If anybody is thinking of coming over to the UK within the next couple of months I highly recommend a trip to Stratford and the Royal Shakespeare company. A Special Thank You to Carolyn for sharing this
Merry Wives Rehearsal Photos -- from the RSC Website
Listen and See the Show -- Video Clips Available --
RSC Website Section
Thanks to Lisa S. and Emma W. for
bringing this Website Section to my attention Judi Dench to star at Stratford
WarwickToday.com -- November 7, 2006 Anyone who regards Shakespeare as a stuffy business must have performed something of a double-take when, halfway down the RSC's Complete Works programme, two little words appeared after Merry Wives. This Christmas, with the Works project in full flow and the traditional festive production ruled out, the company stages only its second-ever 'The Musical'. And in Dame Judi Dench they've roped one of the theatrical world's biggest stars into the fun. Sir John Falstaff is in need of cash and decides to hedge his bets by courting the wealthy Mistress Ford and Mistress Page at the same time. But when they compare love-letters and see through the plan - with more than a little help from Mistress Quickly (Dench) - the riotous knight gets his just desserts. Along the way, there will be eyebrow-raising twists, liberties taken with the text and at least one hoe down, explained associate director Gregory Doran. For him it all started with a song composer Paul Englishby wrote for a recent production of The Tamer Tamed, a response to The Taming of the Shrew, called The Woman Must Wear the Breeches. Doran said: "I remember we started to think about other plays where music might play a bigger part. Then we did All's Well that Ends Well with Judi Dench and she loved Paul's music in that, so the germ of the idea appeared. Tamer Tamed became the initial inspiration - a sort of mix of country and western and some softer ballads. Without giving too much away we are hoping the setting will at first seem quite traditional, as in Merrie Olde Englande, but with several anarchic twists." Doran explained how Merry Wives was the perfect candidate for the makeover. He added: "It was written in two weeks by Shakespeare in response to a request by Queen Elizabeth, who wanted to see a play where Falstaff is in love. This meant it has always been seen as entertainment as much as a classic play, and therefore lends itself to 'versions' of all sorts. "It's also one of the longest comedies and not known for its great poetry - so in this version there are some scenes which are sung through with no dialogue at all, for example the Buck Basket scene. Songs have been added to enhance the comedy or beef up relationships, but whilst adapting I have noticed there is certainly a lot of the original text left." For trooper Dame Judi, meanwhile, the whole thing is "just the next job, really". It's not as if she can't 'do' song and dance - after all she's been Sally Bowles in Cabaret and was Adriana the last time the RSC went a bit musical, with Trevor Nunn and Guy Woolfenden's The Comedy of Errors in 1976. She added: "That's the life of an actor - you can go from doing Hamlet to a light comedy or musical and it's all in the same spectrum. You still have to be that character and tell that story. I remember Hal Prince, who directed me in Cabaret, saying to me 'you shouldn't have to stop to sing a song in a musical; it should be a logical step that takes you onto the next stage of the story, not embroidered on'. I've never forgotten that - I think it's a really good tip." She felt the unusual version might help hook a younger audience on Shakespeare, adding: "I know that after we did the musical version of Comedy of Errors quite a few came back to see other things at the RSC as a result. It really depends on how well we do it. There is nothing more off-putting to audiences new to theatre than seeing a bad production - so we had better make a good job of it!" RSC debutant Simon Callow will take over from Desmond Barrit in the role of Falstaff, after the latter suffered a foot injury, it has been announced. Merry Wives The Musical opens at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on December 2, and runs until February 10. Contact the RSC box office on 0870 609110.
McGowan to Join Dench in RSC’s Merry Wives Musical By John Nathan -- 08 Sep 2006 -- Playbill.com Actor and impressionist Alistair McGowan will make his Royal Shakespeare Company debut as the jealous husband Frank Ford in a musical version of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Merry Wives of Windsor — The Musical, part of the RSC’s year-long Complete Works season, receives its world premiere at Stratford’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre Dec. 2, with an official opening night on Dec. 12. Gregory Doran’s production features a stellar cast, including the previously announced Judi Dench (who appeared in Doran's production of All's Well That Ends Well) as Mistress Quickly and Desmond Barrit as Falstaff. Other new additions to the cast include Hadyn Gwynne (last seen in Billy Elliot) as Mistress Page and Alexandra Gill (The Taming of the Shrew, The Tamer Tamed) as Mistress Ford, and Scarlett Strallen, who recently played the title role of Mary Poppins in the West End, will make her RSC debut as Anne Page. McGowan is best known to the British public as a television impressionist. Over the last year he’s carved a stage career with appearances in Chichester Festival productions of The Government Inspector and 5/11, Edward Kemp’s 2005 play marking the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot and drawing comparisons with today’s War on Terror. Directed and adapted by Doran, Merry Wives has music composed by Paul Englishby (who worked with Doran on The Tamer Tamed and All’s Well that Ends Well) and lyrics by Ranjit Bolt. London’s Daily Mail reports that producer Cameron Mackintosh has expressed an interest in transferring the show to the West End after its Stratford run finishes on Feb. 10.
Merry wives make a big impression on Alistair 8th September 2006 -- Daily Mail, UK Haydn Gwynne and Alexandra Gilbreath will lead funnyman Alistair McGowan on a merry dance in a musical version of The Merry Wives Of Windsor. Director Gregory Doran has adapted Shakespeare's romp about women teaching their men a lesson (well, that's the short and the long of it, to steal a phrase) into a musical comedy with a score by Paul Englishby and lyrics from Ranjit Bolt. Making his Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) debut, McGowan will play Frank Ford, who suspects his wife (Ms Gilbreath) and her friend Mistress Page (Ms Gwynne, returning to the stage for the first time since her sensational run as Mrs Wilkinson in the original company of Billy Elliot The Musical) are up to no good with Desmond Barrit's Falstaff. Merry Wives — The Musical will be premiered at Stratford-upon-Avon as part of the RSC Complete Works Festival. It opens in December and will run until February 10. That closing date will suit one of its stars, Judi Dench. If she's nominated for an Oscar for her role in Richard Eyre's film Notes On A Scandal, she'll be able to fly to Los Angeles for the ceremony in late February. The show will also feature Scarlett Strallen, who has been appearing as Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. Her equally talented sister, Summer, won rave reviews for the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production of The Boy Friend. Cameron Mackintosh has expressed an interest in bringing it to the West End. Imagine the outcry if the RSC cast its musicals in the manner of that Sound Of Music drivel the BBC has been running at the behest of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Andrew will be one of the recipients of this year's Kennedy Center Honors in Washington. President Bush will hand out the gongs — I suspect he would like How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
Interview from the RSC Members Section -- August 24, 2006 Greg Doran: Question: Some people will not think of Judi Dench as being a singer. Why did you want her in the role of Mistress Quickly? Answer: Judi was actually the first person to play Sally Bowles in the stage version of Cabaret and was rehearsing Grizabella for Cats when she snapped her Achilles tendon and had to pull out! She was also the lead in A Little Night Music at the National Theatre so she has had extensive experience in Musicals as well as being a consummate classical stage performer. She has a wicked sense of humour so her role of Mistress Quickly will suit her down to the ground and she gets to sing one of the ‘show stopping’ songs!" Dame Judi: Q: How do you feel about appearing in a musical (rather than in a straight play)? A: Well, it’s just the next job for me really. That’s the life of an actor – you can go from doing Hamlet to a light comedy or musical and its all in the same spectrum. You still have to be that character and tell that story! I remember Hal Prince (who directed me in Cabaret) saying to me "You shouldn't have to stop to sing a song in a musical; it should be a logical step that takes you onto the next stage in the story, not embroidered on – a vital step forward in the narrative." I’ve never forgotten that – I think it’s a really good tip! Q: Most people are not aware that you have appeared in musicals before. Can you tell us a bit about your other musical roles? A: My first musical role was Sally Bowles in Cabaret. I used to read the Christopher Isherwood novel (on which it is based) every night before I went on stage. Isherwood describes her so well in the book that it really helped me bring her to life. I was then in The Good Companions (where I had a couple of difficult songs to sing that I was quite nervous about); I played Adriana in Trevor Nunn's musical version of The Comedy of Errors in Stratford-upon-Avon and was Desiree in Sondheim's A Little Night Music at the National Theatre. I have also directed The Boys from Syracuse (a musical adaptation of The Comedy of Errors) at Regent's Park. Q: You will be working with Gregory Doran again (who directed you in All's Well That Ends Well) what is it about the way he works that you enjoy? A: Mainly because of his sense of humour! I don’t want to work in a stressful environment. I have done in the past and I don't like it as it inhibits you in the rehearsal room. As an actor you have to be very daring and be allowed to make mistakes, to be self deprecating. Greg is very good at putting people at their ease! Q: How do you feel about being part of the RSC's Complete Works Festival? What do you think it gives audiences? A: I think the Festival is tremendously ambitious and exciting and, although I haven't had time to see anything in it (as I have been performing in the West End), I have heard some great things about some of the visiting companies such as Ninagawa's Titus Andronicus and A Midsummer Night's Dream from India. Q: Do you think this musical will encourage audiences to come to straight Shakespeare plays?
A: It might encourage younger people to come back and see the
plays. I know that after we did the musical version of The
Comedy of Errors (1976 at the RST) quite a few came back to see
other things at the RSC as a result. It really all depends on
how well we do it! There is nothing more off putting to
audiences new to theatre, than seeing a bad production. So we
had better make a good job of it! Thanks to Lisa S, UK, for sharing this
RSC stars and warring houses kick off Shakespeare festival
Patrick Stewart and Judi Dench unveiling the portrait of Shakespeare The Stage Online -- April 25, 2006 The Royal Shakespeare Company launched its year-long Complete Works festival with a day of free events to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday. Patrick Stewart and Judi Dench helped unveil a giant portrait of the bard, created from 90 small canvases which had been given to participants to paint during the day. Other highlights included a football match between the Montagues and Capulets - the two warring families from Romeo and Juliet. Actors from the RSC’s current production of the play attempted to settle the ancient grudge with a five-a-side game. The festival will feature 23 RSC shows, 17 international productions and 14 by UK-based companies and will mark the first time that all of Shakespeare’s plays and poems have been staged at the same event. The season will also see the return of RSC founder Peter Hall and former RSC stalwarts Ian McKellen, Stewart and Dench. Meanwhile, Sheffield Theatre’s artistic director Sam West will bring his new company to Stratford for the first time with its production of As You Like It and Cheek by Jowl will perform its all-male Russian version of Twelfth Night. The season will also feature more unusual interpretations of Shakespeare such as New York-based theatre company Tiny Ninja Theater’s production of Hamlet, which uses an inch-high cast of plastic Ninja figurines to perform. Tuesday 25 April 2006 02:45 PM
Vanity Fair -- April 2006 Issue
Thanks to Marla C, OH, USA for
bringing this to my attention
Dame Judi previously portrayed
Mistress Quickly in the film "Henry V" The Complete Works of Shakespeare
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Message From Sarah Taylor at the RSC Judi Dench to perform in RSC's Complete Works Festival I thought you might like to
know she will be appearing in the Royal Shakespeare Company's
Booking Period 1 (April – October 2006) of The Complete Works will go on
sale for public booking on Monday 5 September 2005. Full
information will be publicly available in September. However, RSC Members
will receive information for The Complete Works at the end of this month
We are anticipating a huge response to this production and by joining the RSC you will receive advance information and priority booking allowing you to secure those essential seats for this show. As a Full Member you will receive up to 4 weeks priority booking as well as exclusive ticket offers, top priority hotline to the RSC, regular newsletters plus many other benefits. For more information about RSC Membership or to download a Membership Application Form visit www.rsc.org.uk/membership visit www.rsc.org.uk Royal Shakespeare Company
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