– Shakespeare Festival St. Louis (SFSTL) is set to stage Shakespeare’s comedy, “The Merry Wives of Windsor” with a 90s sitcom spin.
– Artistic director Tom Ridgely aims to increase relatability by setting it in a suburban American context, complete with a backyard barbecue and a 1990s setting.
– Director Brian Isaac Phillips understands the nuance of positioning Shakespeare with a pop-culture twist, believing it enhances accessibility without diminishing the original play’s depth.
– The play runs from August 17 to September 5 in Forest Park with only two performers assuming all roles due to pandemic-induced limitations.
– SFSTL has incorporated strict COVID-19 safety protocols and advises audience members to bring their own seating.
– The event is free, and while it seeks donations, the festival stresses that it makes Shakespeare accessible to all, regardless of economic status.
The Breezy Take
Hold onto your slap bracelets and windbreakers, folks, because the usually “Ye Olde English” world of Shakespeare is taking a wild ride into the 90s! The “Friends” and “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” you grew up with are about to get a dramatic twist. SFSTL is making a bold style choice with its audacious rendition of “The Merry Wives of Windsor”, but honestly, who hasn’t fantasized about a classic Shakespearean character sipping cocktails at a suburban barbecue!
Despite the pandemic-induced cast cut, they’re heading full-steam ahead into the land of flannel and grunge. Just remember to bring your own chairs, because despite the 90s makeover, the ground is still as hard as it was in the Elizabethan era! But hey, at least access to this time machine doesn’t require a single cent. Shakespeare has never been so accessible, or so nostalgically rad!
Original article: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2023-08-03/sitcom-inspired-shakespeare-brings-its-laugh-track-to-24-st-louis-area-parks