Difference between revisions of "The Merry Wives of Windsor"

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''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' by William Shakespeare. *** Performed at [[Maynardville]], opening on 4 January 1969. Directed by [[Leslie French]] for [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]] and [[René Ahrenson]]. In the lead roles were [[Bernard Brown]] as Sir John Falstaff, [[Peter Curtis]] as Ford, [[Margaret Heale]] as Mistress Ford, [[Bruce Addison]] as Page and [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]] as Mistress Page.
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'''''The Merry Wives of Windsor''''' is a comedy by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare]  
  
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(Source: ''[[Teater SA]]'', 1(3), 1968).
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== The original text ==
  
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Most probably written prior to 1597 but first published in 1602. One of the first Shakespearean plays to be performed once the theatres re-opened in 1660.  William Jaggard's "False folio" of 1619 bears the title "A most pleasant and excellent conceited comedy, of Sir John Falstaffe, and the merry wives of Windsor", but it is usually known by the shorter title.
  
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 M|M]] in Plays 1 Original SA Plays
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== Translations and adaptations ==
  
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 M|M]] in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
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Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Hendrik IV]]'' 
  
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
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Translated into [[Setswana]] as ''[[Kgosi Henry wa Bone]]'' (1952) by [[M.O.M. Seboni].
 +
 
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Translated into [[Northern Sotho]] as ''[[Kgosi Henri IV]]''  (1973) by [[N.C. Phatudi]]
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A number of operas by this name have been written over the years, most of them largely based on ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]'', with material from Shakespeare's ''[[Henry IV]]'', (Parts I and II) added. Composers and librettists include:
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* Antonio Salieri and Carlo Prospero Defranceschi (1799)
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* Michael William Balfe and S. Manfredo Maggione (1838)
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* Otto Nicolai to a German libretto by Salomon Hermann Mosenthal (1848)
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* Giuseppe Verdi and Arrigo Boito (1893).
 +
 
 +
A "symphonic study" called ''[[Falstaff]]''  was also written by Edward Elgar in  1913.
 +
 
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Adapted as a stage play called ''[[Falstaff]]'' by [[Ian Ferguson]] in 1976, a combination of the "[[Falstaff]]" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falstaff] scenes from Shakespeare’s plays ''[[Henry IV]]'' (parts 1 and 2) and ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]''.
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== Performance history of the play in South Africa ==
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1945: ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]'' performed at the [[Standard Theatre]], Johannesburg and [[Alhambra Theatre]], Cape Town in collaboration with [[African Consolidated Theatres]] in 1945. Presented by the [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company]] , with [[Marda Vanne]], [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]], [[Wensley Pithey]] as Falstaff, [[Rolf Lefebvre]], [[Gavin Haughton]], [[Alec Bell]], [[James Workman]], [[Jack Bligh]], [[Noel Hewett]], [[Zoë Randall]], [[Pietro Nolte]], decor by [[John Dronsfield]], scene changes devised by [[Dulcie Howes]].
 +
 
 +
1969: Performed at [[Maynardville]], opening on 4 January 1969. Directed by [[Leslie French]] for [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]] and [[René Ahrenson]]. In the lead roles were [[Bernard Brown]] as Sir John Falstaff, [[Peter Curtis]] as Ford, [[Margaret Heale]] as Mistress Ford, [[Bruce Addison]] as Page and [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]] as Mistress Page. Other members of the cast were [[Christopher Galloway]], [[Michael Drin]], Glynn Day]], [[Timothy Heale]], [[Ronald France]], [[Don Maguire]], [[Douglas Percival]], [[Ron Fenton]], [[Barrie Evrard]], [[Alexander Bickett]], [[Craig Curtis]], [[Michael Burke]], [[Bob Scott]], [[Tony Bent]], [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]], [[Dorothy Scott]] and [[René Ahrenson]]. Set designed by [[Leslie French]] from a contemporary Elizabethan theatre. Dances arranged by [[Jennifer Craig]].
 +
 
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1976: ''[[Falstaff]]'' (Shakespeare/Ferguson) performed by [[PACT]] ('''See details under ''[[Falstaff]]''''')
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1984: ''[[Falstaff]]'' (Shakespeare/Ferguson) performed by [[CAPAB]] ('''See details under ''[[Falstaff]]''''')
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1991: Directed by [[Ralph Lawson]] for [[CAPAB]] at the [[National Arts Festival]] 1991 starring [[Phillip Boucher]] (Falstaff), [[Diane Wilson]], [[Lida Meiring]], [[André Jacobs]], [[Ronald France]], [[Mary Dreyer]], [[Kurt Wustmann]], [[Richard Farmer]], [[Jay Heale]], [[Royston Stoffels]], [[Mark Hoeben]], [[Steven Raymond]], [[Jonathan Pienaar]], [[Barry Park]], [[André Samuels]], [[Pauline O'Kelly]], [[Blaise Koch]], [[Sizwe Msutu]] and [[Lwando Bango]]. Designs by [[Birrie le Roux]], lighting by [[Malcolm Hurrell]], music by [[David Nissen]].
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== Performance history of the operas in South Africa ==
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 +
1938: Nicolai's opera presented at the [[Johannesburg Music Festival]] by [[John Connell]].
 +
 
 +
1970: ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]'' (opera) presented by [[NAPAC Opera]].
 +
 
 +
==Sources==
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 +
"''The Merry Wives of Windsor''" in Wikipedia[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Merry_Wives_of_Windsor].
 +
 
 +
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare
 +
 
 +
''[[South African Opinion]]'', 2(3):23; 2(5):22, 1945; ''Trek'' 9(22):22; 9(24):22, 1945.
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 +
''[[Teater SA]]'', 1(3), 1969.
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[[Maynardville]] theatre programme, 1969.
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Havergal Brian. "John Connell’s Johannesburg Festival" from "On the other hand". Musical opinion, June 1938, p. 777.
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[[National Arts Festival]] programme, 1991. 42.
 +
 
 +
[[Percy Tucker]] 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. 
 +
 
 +
[[Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow]]. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. [[University of Stellenbosch]].
 +
 
 +
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 +
 
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== Return to ==
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 22:59, 14 March 2024

The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)[1]

The original text

Most probably written prior to 1597 but first published in 1602. One of the first Shakespearean plays to be performed once the theatres re-opened in 1660. William Jaggard's "False folio" of 1619 bears the title "A most pleasant and excellent conceited comedy, of Sir John Falstaffe, and the merry wives of Windsor", but it is usually known by the shorter title.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Afrikaans as Hendrik IV

Translated into Setswana as Kgosi Henry wa Bone (1952) by [[M.O.M. Seboni].

Translated into Northern Sotho as Kgosi Henri IV (1973) by N.C. Phatudi

A number of operas by this name have been written over the years, most of them largely based on The Merry Wives of Windsor, with material from Shakespeare's Henry IV, (Parts I and II) added. Composers and librettists include:

  • Antonio Salieri and Carlo Prospero Defranceschi (1799)
  • Michael William Balfe and S. Manfredo Maggione (1838)
  • Otto Nicolai to a German libretto by Salomon Hermann Mosenthal (1848)
  • Giuseppe Verdi and Arrigo Boito (1893).

A "symphonic study" called Falstaff was also written by Edward Elgar in 1913.

Adapted as a stage play called Falstaff by Ian Ferguson in 1976, a combination of the "Falstaff" [2] scenes from Shakespeare’s plays Henry IV (parts 1 and 2) and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Performance history of the play in South Africa

1945: The Merry Wives of Windsor performed at the Standard Theatre, Johannesburg and Alhambra Theatre, Cape Town in collaboration with African Consolidated Theatres in 1945. Presented by the Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company , with Marda Vanne, Gwen ffrangçon-Davies, Wensley Pithey as Falstaff, Rolf Lefebvre, Gavin Haughton, Alec Bell, James Workman, Jack Bligh, Noel Hewett, Zoë Randall, Pietro Nolte, decor by John Dronsfield, scene changes devised by Dulcie Howes.

1969: Performed at Maynardville, opening on 4 January 1969. Directed by Leslie French for Cecilia Sonnenberg and René Ahrenson. In the lead roles were Bernard Brown as Sir John Falstaff, Peter Curtis as Ford, Margaret Heale as Mistress Ford, Bruce Addison as Page and Cecilia Sonnenberg as Mistress Page. Other members of the cast were Christopher Galloway, Michael Drin, Glynn Day]], Timothy Heale, Ronald France, Don Maguire, Douglas Percival, Ron Fenton, Barrie Evrard, Alexander Bickett, Craig Curtis, Michael Burke, Bob Scott, Tony Bent, Cecilia Sonnenberg, Dorothy Scott and René Ahrenson. Set designed by Leslie French from a contemporary Elizabethan theatre. Dances arranged by Jennifer Craig.

1976: Falstaff (Shakespeare/Ferguson) performed by PACT (See details under Falstaff)

1984: Falstaff (Shakespeare/Ferguson) performed by CAPAB (See details under Falstaff)

1991: Directed by Ralph Lawson for CAPAB at the National Arts Festival 1991 starring Phillip Boucher (Falstaff), Diane Wilson, Lida Meiring, André Jacobs, Ronald France, Mary Dreyer, Kurt Wustmann, Richard Farmer, Jay Heale, Royston Stoffels, Mark Hoeben, Steven Raymond, Jonathan Pienaar, Barry Park, André Samuels, Pauline O'Kelly, Blaise Koch, Sizwe Msutu and Lwando Bango. Designs by Birrie le Roux, lighting by Malcolm Hurrell, music by David Nissen.

Performance history of the operas in South Africa

1938: Nicolai's opera presented at the Johannesburg Music Festival by John Connell.

1970: The Merry Wives of Windsor (opera) presented by NAPAC Opera.

Sources

"The Merry Wives of Windsor" in Wikipedia[3].

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare

South African Opinion, 2(3):23; 2(5):22, 1945; Trek 9(22):22; 9(24):22, 1945.

Teater SA, 1(3), 1969.

Maynardville theatre programme, 1969.

Havergal Brian. "John Connell’s Johannesburg Festival" from "On the other hand". Musical opinion, June 1938, p. 777.

National Arts Festival programme, 1991. 42.

Percy Tucker 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Stellenbosch.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page

Retrieved from "https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php?title=The_Merry_Wives_of_Windsor&oldid=256388"