The hilarious production of Shakespeare’s comedy "Merry Wives of Windsor" is through July 7 on the Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley.
Director Matt Pfeiffer has given the show a contemporary spin with a fusion of various influences creating a jolly pastiche that is extremely funny and very accessible.
The setting of the Garter Inn is given the modern pub treatment and Scott Greer’s Falstaff is an Elvis-style singer and Bardolph (Devin Romero), Pistol (Dan Hodge), and Nym (Eli Lynn) are his scruffy back-up band.
Greer’s Falstaff is arrogant and obnoxious, but not without a little bit of charm. Greer handles the character’s frantic physical humor in this very broadly played comedy, with aplomb.
In the plot, the portly Falstaff tries to seduce the wives of two gentlemen of Windsor with increasingly uproarious results.
Akeem Davis as Mr. Ford is one of the men and he is enjoyably over-the-top as the increasingly jealous husband who doesn’t trust his wife. His delivery of the cuckold soliloquy is memorable and very funny. There is even some cleverly done audience involvement. When Ford disguises himself as Mr. Brook to meet Falstaff, Davis is dressed humorously like a rapper, and his high-pitched intonation of his name draws laughs every time he squeaks it out.
As the two wives Taysha Marie Canales and Karen Peakes are indeed merry. As Mrs. Ford, Canales is clever and playfully devious. Peakes’ Mrs. Page is a bit more sedate but still up for a good prank.
J. Paul Nicholas as Mr. Page is confident and laid back, trusting in his wife, in contrast to his friend Ford.
Supporting the main plot is a cast of zany characters who keep the laughs coming.
Anthony Lawton is the humorously nervous and manipulative Welsh priest. Ian Merrill Peakes is a cocky French doctor who brought to mind comedian Harvey Korman. Suzanne O’Donnell is a sly and giddy Mistress Quickly who gave off an “I Love Lucy” vibe. Sean Close’s Slender is ridiculous to look at and impossibly clueless. Isaiah Caleb Stanley is a wonderfully flamboyant host of the Garter Inn who steps in to solve problems at the right time.
In the second act, a secondary plot in which Slender, the doctor and Fenton (a passionate Christian Tuffy) who are all vying for the hand of the Page’s daughter Anne (a coy and sensible CaSandra Kay), crashes into the main plot resulting in all out chaos complete with the entire cast, including the band, decked out mummer-style for a gut-busting conclusion.
Alex Bechtel has written the enjoyable score, which draws influence from rockabilly.
Paige Hathaway’s set is dynamic and eye-catching and Pei Lee’s parade of outrageous costumes definitely enhance the production.
Meet the actors for a talk-back after the July 3 show.
“Prologues,” which provides insights into the play in an informal setting will be held in the theater 45 minutes prior to curtain.
There will be an audio described and open captioned performance at the 2 p.m. show June 29.
Tickets are $46-64 for adults; $43-61 for seniors and $40-58 for youth.
Performances are 2 p.m. June 30, July 7; 7:30 p.m. July 3, 5; 2 and 7:30 p.m. July 6; and 6:30 p.m.. July 2.
For information, call 610-282-9455, or go to pashakespeare.org/