WHEN SHAKESPEARE
NEEDS A LITTLE HELP

Physical comedy drives the laughs—sometimes
to excess—in Phillip Breen’s energetic production

Ora Jones (Mistress Page), Jason Simoon (Falstaff), Rohan Ryhs Degala (Robin Page), and Issy van Randwyck (Mistress Ford).

The Merry Wives of Windsor is not one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, and its origins may partly explain why: Falstaff appeared in the Henry plays, and his character became immensely popular. Queen Elizabeth I reportedly commissioned Shakespeare to write a new story with Falstaff at the center, this time in love. Set 200 years after the history plays, Wives was supposedly written in just 14 days, and that haste shows. The script often feels structurally uneven, even as Shakespeare experiments with language, abandoning blank verse for prose.

Jason Simoon as Falstaff (center) with Teddy Gales (Bardolph), Zach Bloomfield (Nym), Rohan Rhys Degala (Robin Page), Bret Tuomi (Host of the Garter Inn), and Colin Huerta (Pistol).

At Chicago Shakespeare, perhaps that’s why director Phillip Breen leans so heavily on physical bits, some of which earn belly laughs (the bicycles are a particularly delightful touch) while others lack originality or are still working out timing. While it may be true that the script has a hard time standing alone as something modern audiences find truly funny, Breen’s production doesn’t give the script a chance to try. But this is a gamble that pays off for a stellar cast that does an admirable job of mining for laughs in a play where they’re a little hard to find. While the script probably isn’t for everyone, this production is sure to amuse. With the variety and number of bits, there’s something to tickle everyone’s fancy.

Issy van Randwyck as Mistress Ford.

The only fictional Shakespeare character to appear in more than one play, Sir John Falstaff (Jason Simon) plots to seduce the wives of two wealthy merchants, Master Ford (Timothy Edward Kane) and Master Page (Chiké Johnson), hoping to get at their money. But Mistress Ford (Issy Van Randwyck) and Mistress Page (Ora Jones) quickly see through his schemes and decide to turn the tables, tricking both Falstaff and their jealous husbands and making fools of them all.

Jason Simon as Falstaff and Ora Jones as Mistress Page.

Under Breen’s direction and skillful cutting, the nearly three-hour play clips along at a steady pace. There is one rogue scene that stands out as an opportunity to trim a few minutes: Do we really need the Latin lesson for any other reason than to give the child actors more stage time? Still, Breen manages to make sense of Shakespeare’s unwieldy hacksawed comedy.

Timothy Edward Kane as Master Ford (center), with Nate Burger (Dr. Caius), Chiké Johnson (Master Page), Nick Sandys (Sir Hugh Evans), and Issy van Randwyck (Mistress Ford).

Even Marcus Doshi’s lighting and Lindsay Jones’s sound have roles to play in the comedy. When Mistress Ford entertains Falstaff in her home, she sets the mood with Marvin Gaye and some remote control lighting. The comedy continues when Falstaff tries to turn down the music but turns out the lights instead.

Nancy Voigts as Mistress Quickly.

Timothy Edward Kane as Master Ford.

Max Jones does admirable work in his costume and scenic design, creating a beautiful autumnal front stoop for the Jones’s home, complete with a jack-o’-lantern and a black cat that serves as a bit of a Chekhov’s gun—meaning that this spooky Halloween aesthetic attempts to justify one scene where the characters appear in costumes, but it feels unnecessarily gimmicky. These characters hardly need a seasonal excuse to behave theatrically.

Jason Simon as Falstaff.

Whatever I feel about the director’s trust in the material, I don’t sense any from the actors, who wholeheartedly commit to their bits. Nate Burger as the hilariously French Dr. Caius and Timothy Edward Kane as the would-be cuck-cuck-cuckold, Master Ford, bring expert comedy to both Shakespeare’s language and their character’s physicality. I dare you not to laugh when either is onstage. On opening night, Tyler Ravelson delivered a wildly energetic performance as Nym (a role usually played by Zach Bloomfield). And of course, the merry wives themselves—Van Randwyck and Jones—hold their own with confidence and wit.

The Cast.

In the end, it’s the performances that carry the day. Whatever the production throws at them, this cast meets it with precision, energy, and a clear sense of play—proof that even a messy comedy can shine in the right hands.

Jason Simon as Falstaff.

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photos by Kyle Flubacker

The Merry Wives of Windsor
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Jentes Family Courtyard Theater, Chicago
Tue at 7; Wed at 1 & 7; Thu–Fri at 7; Sat at 2 & 7; Sun at 2
ends on May 3, 2026
for tickets, visit Chicago Shakes

for more shows, visit Theatre in Chicago

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