The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe
Have you ever received a text from a guy, only to find out that your friend was sent the exact same message? This is the situation Mistress Page (Emma Pallant) and Mistress Ford (Katherine Pearce) find themselves in when Falstaff (George Fouracres), a knight who, having fallen on hard times and in dire need of money, decides to seduce two wealthy wives.
Their husbands find out, and while Page (Christopher Logan) is more concerned about getting his daughter Anne (Danielle Phillips) married to Mr Slender (Adam Caius), a pernickety man that Anne finds exasperating, Ford (Jolycon Coy) is an exceedingly jealous individual who plots to justify his suspicion by catching his wife in the act. He disguises himself as Mr Brook, a man who is desperately in love with Mistress Page, and goes to Falstaff, telling him that he believes the only way to win her love is for Falstaff to seduce her first. What follows is a lot of mistaken identity, disguise, and pure chaos in and around Windsor.
The Globe’s outdoor theatre is decorated with Thibaut Windsor Spa (a tranquil, flowery pattern in light blues and greens) wallpaper, which covers the pillars and walls. The Fords and Pages are also decked out in full Elizabethan fashion with their dresses, breaches and tunics designed in the same Thibaut Windsor Spa pattern, which highlights how Windsor town is a central character in this show. It is literally covering the characters, and it forms the backdrop to every scene.
It is telling that Falstaff and Fenton, two characters who are outside the social constructs within this close-knit Windsor community, are among the only characters in bold colours (Fenton in purple and Falstaff in royal red) instead of the pastoral yellows, greens and blues that reflect the Thibaut Windsor palatte. Every costume is fantastically authentic, right down to the small-heeled shoes and breeches, and it gives a strong vision and impressive attention to detail.
Shakespeare can be hard for modern ears to follow, especially with the less well-known works. Merry Wives is also just chaotic, and it can be hard to follow the plot. This doesn’t necessarily matter, however, because the performances are still fun to watch even if you have no idea what’s going on.
Samuel Cresey (who plays the Welsh pastor Hugh Evans) repeatedly steals the show despite being a secondary character. In one delightful scene, he uses the live orchestra (which is one of the few times these musicians are utilised) to exaggerate his singing capabilities in a hilarious, bellowing, operatic recital. Dr Caius and Slender are both played by Adam Caius, who does a wonderful job at individualising each character to the point that you wouldn’t know it was the same actor. It also perhaps highlights how Anne, whom they are both rather emotionlessly courting, is equally unmoved by either of them.
Jolyon Coy (Ford) is fun in his over-the-top, yet humanised characterisation of the overly jealous husband, and Katherine Pearce (Mistress Ford) brings new dimensions to her character and makes us question how much her daliance with Fulstaff is really about teaching him a lesson – and how much she lives up to her husbands beliefs about her. George Fouracres (Fulstaff) is full of swagger and confidence. He is immoral, but not bad, and you enjoy rooting for him.
Watching The Merry Wives of Windsor feels like stepping back into a different era. It does drag a little, and the play doesn’t really have much emotional diversity, so it can feel a bit flat at points, but it is a fun adventure into Elizabethan England, and it is beautifully designed.
Sophia Moss
Photos: Marc Brenner
The Merry Wives of Windsor is at Shakespeare’s Globe from 13th July until 20th September 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.
Watch the trailer for The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe here:
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