Falstaff is back! That rotund rascal seeks to repair his depleted fortunes by wooing two wives of Windsor in Shakespeare’s affectionate portrait of provincial English life. Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Barbara Gaines. Greg Vinkler appears as Sir John Falstaff.
Hard up for money, Falstaff arrives in Windsor and hopes to seduce the wives of two of the town’s rich citizens, Master Ford and Master Page. Falstaff’s elaborate plans go awry with disastrous and humiliating consequences. Ford is overtaken by jealous rage at Falstaff’s attempt to woo his wife, while both the Windsor Wives see through Falstaff’s schemes-and dupe him repeatedly.