The Merry Wives of Windsor – The Royal Botanic Gardens (VIC)

Directed By Glen Elston and musical direction by Paul Norton. Choreography by Sue-Ellen Shook.

Life is given back to one of Shakespeare’s lesser performed plays, The Merry Wives of Windsor, complete with 70s chic

Review by Carla Di Maggio
Australian Theatre Company: Shakespeare Under the Stars
Season: 21 December – 25January 2025
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/biographica-tickets-479723294287

Type: Shakespeare, Outdoors, Comedy
If You Liked: Much Ado About Nothing, The Real Housewives of Melbourne, Outdoor Performances

Shakespeare Under the Stars returns with the outrageously hilarious play The Merry Wives of Windsor, full of scandalous revenge plots and dazzling declarations of love. Shakespeare’s lesser-known comedy centres around the slimy John Falstaff, played by Peter Houghton, attempting to woo two married women, played by Anna Burgess and Elizabeth Brennan. Meanwhile, three suitors by the names of Slender, Caius and Fenton (played by Alex Cooper, Tony Rive and Callum O’Malley, respectively) fight for the hand of Anne Page (Maddie Somers).

If you haven’t been to a Shakespeare Under the Stars production before, now is the perfect time to do so. The Royal Botanic Gardens is an entirely transformative venue at the peak of Melbourne summer. The lights add to the whimsy, with bright purples and oranges reflecting beautifully against the backdrop of Australian flora.

I must admit, I was nervous about walking into a Shakespearean play blind, with no knowledge of what the play was about other than it being a comedy. However, after warming up to the language, I found that I couldn’t stop laughing. The use of accents, modernising with references to 1970s media and pop culture, and the bright, colourful costuming and lights stunned me.

As a leading man, Houghton is an absolute joy to watch. Disgusting when he needs to be but is bounding with energy, bouncing around the stage, falling from tables, and trying to capture the hearts of women. His performance is only amplified by our Merry Wives, Burgess and Brennan, who hilariously reflect the rich housewives of Melbourne, gossiping, spa days and exacting revenge. Jackson McGovern’s performance of Frank Ford, jealous husband of Mistress Ford (Alice), was outstanding, switching between a husband desperate for his wife’s loyalty and a husband in disguise wanting a part in the plot. McGovern’s energy throughout the play never wavers.

Audience participation was welcome throughout this production, and the actors used audience reaction to fuel more hilarity. At one point, Burgess came up to my party to get us more riled up for the action, and it couldn’t have been more exciting. Despite the language being Shakespearean, it immersed me even more.

Director Glen Elston breathes life back into this commonly forgotten Shakespearean play

Another highlight for me was the gorgeous costumes by Karla Erenbots. The costumes and set coordinated in colour to signify which family characters belonged to; the Fords wore green while the Page family was decked in purple. Every character wore 70’s style clothing, from chunky belts to flair pants, tight little shorts to bell-sleeved dresses. The costumes added to the playful nature of the show, becoming the talk of the night. Around every corner, there was a surprise when it came to costuming.

My only gripe with this play comes from the language being quite outdated. Act 2 begins to drag as fat joke after fat joke gets thrown around about our antagonist, a “joke” that quickly turns stale. Act 1 is also quite long, weighed down by the exposition attempting to get the audience as acquainted with the narrative as possible. Visual gags added by the cast certainly help these two points get a laugh from the audience (especially Houghton’s clearly stuffed shirt). Coming to this performance with the expectation of Shakespeare certainly negates these points.

Director Glen Elston breathes life back into this commonly forgotten Shakespearean play. If you’re longing for a picnic with friends and family this summer, why not spice it up with The Merry Wives of Windsor?

Theatre Thought: Which is your favourite Shakesepearean adaptation? Film or otherwise?

Cast
Alex Cooper Abraham Slender
Maddie Somers Anne Page
Hugh Sexton Bardolph
Tony Rive Doctor Caius
Callum O’Malley Fenton
Jackson McGovern Frank Ford
Luke Lennox George Page
Elizabeth Brennan Mistress Ford (Alice)
Anna Burgess Mistress Page (Margaret)
Tash Herbert Mistress Quickly
Larissa Teale Nun / Understudy
Scott Middleton Peter Simple
Kevin Hopkins Robert Shallow
Claire Duncan Robin
Dion Mills Sir Hugh Evans
Peter Houghton Sir John Falstff

Creatives
DirectorGlenn Elston OAM
Musical Director Paul Norton
Choreographer Sue-Ellen Shook
Costume Design | Karla Erenbots
Production Manager | Peter Amesbury
Stage Manager | Sophie Walter
Sound Operator | Will Leslie
Sound Cover | Joshua Sunderland
Site Manager | Kelly Harris
Construction Manager | Dave Angelico
Costume & Props Coordinator | Kaspa Elston
Production Photography | Ben Fon
Publicist | TS Publicity (mary@tspublicity.com.au)