Shakespeare and (Eco-)Performance History
The Merry Wives of Windsor
1st Edition
Published on 29. September 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-367-49416-2 (ISBN)
Description
Seismic shifts in the theatrical meanings of The Merry Wives of Windsor have taken place across the centuries as Shakespeare's frequently performed play has relocated to Windsor across the world, journeying along the production/adaptation/appropriation continuum.
This (eco-)performance history of Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor not only offers the first in-depth analysis of the play in production, with a particular focus on the representation of merry women, but also utilises the comedy's forest-aware dramaturgy to explore Mistress Page's concept of being 'frugal in my mirth' in relation to sustainable theatre practices. Herne's Oak - the fictitious tree in Windsor Forest where everyone meets in the final scene of the play - is utilised to enable a maverick but ecologically based reframing of the productions of Merry Wives analysed here.
This study engages with gender, physical comedy, and cultural relocations of Windsor across the world to offer new insight into Merry Wives and its theatricality.
This (eco-)performance history of Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor not only offers the first in-depth analysis of the play in production, with a particular focus on the representation of merry women, but also utilises the comedy's forest-aware dramaturgy to explore Mistress Page's concept of being 'frugal in my mirth' in relation to sustainable theatre practices. Herne's Oak - the fictitious tree in Windsor Forest where everyone meets in the final scene of the play - is utilised to enable a maverick but ecologically based reframing of the productions of Merry Wives analysed here.
This study engages with gender, physical comedy, and cultural relocations of Windsor across the world to offer new insight into Merry Wives and its theatricality.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Academic, General, and Postgraduate
Illustrations
12 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 12 s/w Abbildungen
12 Halftones, black and white; 12 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
392 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-367-49416-2 (9780367494162)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
06/2024
1st Edition
Routledge
€193.80
Shipment within 15-20 days
E-Book
06/2024
1st Edition
Routledge
€60.99
Available for download
E-Book
06/2024
1st Edition
Routledge
€60.99
Available for download
Person
Elizabeth Schafer is Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Content
1. Shakespeare and (Eco-)Performance History: The Merry Wives of Windsor 2. 'A Most pleasaunt and excellent conceited Comedie': Early Performances of Merry Wives and the 1602 Quarto 3. 'Wives May Be Witty and Yet Honest Too' (4.2.96): Eliza Vestris and The Merry Wives of Windsor 4. 'The Truth Being Known' (4.4.62): Ellen Terry and The Merry Wives of Windsor, 1902 5. 'More of the Quarto Than is Usual': Terry Hands's Merry Wives, 1968, 1975, and 1995 6. 'The Fords and the Pages Were Obviously Tory Voters': Bill Alexander RSC, 1985, and 'Girls Hug' Rachel Kavanaugh RSC, 2002 7. Geoffrey Rush's The Merry Wives of Windsor, Brisbane, 1987 8. 'All Gold and Bounty' (1.3.65): Leila Hipolito's As Alegres Comadres, 2003 9. 'Merriness Unbridled': Christopher Luscombe's The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Globe, 2008, 2010 10. 'And nightly [. . .] Look you sing' (5.5.66): Richard Jones's Falstaff, Glyndebourne, 2009, 2013 11. 'Sir John Goes into the Basket': Physical Comedy in Wanawake Wa Heri wa Winsa, Shakespeare's Globe, London, 2012 12. Looking for Herne's Oak 13. The Epilogue