Rousuck's Review: ----The Merry Wives of Windsor---- at Baltimore Shakespeare Factory

It's Thursday, and Midday theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Tom in the studio for another of her weekly reviews of the Maryland stage. Today, her spotlight is on Baltimore Shakespeare Factory's new production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, the Bard's circa 1602 comedic romp about smart women, hapless men and communal joy.Reputedly a play that Queen Elizabeth I ordered William Shakespeare to write so she could see her favorite dramatic character, Sir John Falstaff, fall in love, The Merry Wives of Windsor has Falstaff (played for the BSF by David Forrer) arriving in Windsor flat broke and plotting to woo two wealthy married women, Mistress Alice Ford (Emily Classen) and Mistress Margaret Page (Bethany Mayo). The two wives learn of Falstaff's devious plans and scheme, hilariously, to thwart them.The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by BSF founder Tom Delise, continues through Sunday, August 18 at Baltimore Shakespeare Factory's Great Hall Theater in St. Mary's Community Center, at 3900 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21211, with an additional performance outdoors at Boordy Vineyards on August 23. Tickets and info at BaltimoreShakespeareFactory.org.Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.