Barrie Rutter’s travelling band of actors will change your age old view of Shakespeare without losing any of its fascination. The shortened title “The Merry Wives” tells the audience that they are not going to get what they expect. First the assault of different accents upon the ears allow the many speeches to be delivered in a way acceptable for today. Then the twentieth century clothes fitted in perfectly. That’s what this play is “It’s a play for today” and how up to date it still is.

The story is of a man who wants his neighbours’ wives, not one, but two. The wives Mistress Page and Mistress Ford are pursued by Sir John Falstaff who feels that he is what every woman wants. The phrase “wives may be merry yet honest be” sums up this play, but what a merry dance they lead the man. The consequences are dire for Sir John.

Barrie Rutter, as Sir John Falstaff, gives a superb performance milking the audience of all their laughter as he goes about perfecting his craft of acting - a part made for him. Maggie Ollerenshaw as Mistress Ford and Joanna Swain as Mistress Page sparkle as the merry wives. Geoffrey Leesley as Frank Ford knows how to play the audience and Ray North as George Page gives a fine performance. Every actor on the cast list gives a performance to be proud of and can feel well satisfied. We have Andrew Whitehead as Doctor Caisus giving his talents full play with a foreign accent and a camp character. Sir Hugh Evans played by Conrad Nelson uses the welsh accent to enhance the part. Marie Louse O'Donnell plays the scheming Mistress Quickly with mischief. Adam Sunderland is just right as the sloppy Abraham Slender.

Some of the scenes were out of this world especially the one in the forest. The fairies were something else with routines from Barrie Rutter’s fertile mind that delighted everyone. The washing basket escapades are some of the best, giving Rutter yet more scope for his talents amply mirrored by his fellow actors.

Go see this entertaining evening of theatre if these players come your way. A mixed age audience had laughter teased out of them by this very accomplished band of players. Priceless. Brilliantly different. © BA

“The Merry Wives” is in Scarborough from the 26th until the 30th of March, 2001. Then on the following dates and venues at April 2 - 3 Rheged Discovery Centre, Cumbria, April 6 - 7 Indoor Riding Stables, Thoresby Park, Notts, April 9 - 21 West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, April 23 - 28 Barrow in Furness Sixth Form College, April 30 - May 6 Coliseum Theatre, Oldham, May 7 - 12 Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds, May 14 - 19 New Vic Theatre, Stock on Trent, may 22 - 26 South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell, May 28 - June 2 Draiocht Centre for Arts, Dublin, June 5 - 9 An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, June 11 - 13 Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo, June 14 - 23 Dunamaise Theatre, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, June 18 - 23 Everyman Palace, Cork.