Pace University presents Shakespeare's Globe's The Merry Wives of Windsor

Pace University welcomes the Shakespeare's Globe's heralded production of The Merry Wives of Windsor as part of its 2010-2011 "Shakespeare at Pace" season. This presentation is the second of four Shakespeare masterpieces coming to Pace as its season continues through April 2011. Performances of The Merry Wives run from October 28 to November 7 at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University at 3 Spruce Street.

The Globe brings this beloved comedy to New York after kicking off its international tour today at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Los Angeles. This is Shakespeare's Globe's second appearance at Pace University under the artistic leadership of Dominic Dromgoole. After its New York run, the production returns to England with performances in Milton Keynes, Norwich, Richmond and Bath.

Directed by Christopher Luscombe, The Merry Wives of Windsor features Christopher Benjamin as Falstaff, Serena Evans as Mistress Page, and Sarah Woodward as Mistress Ford.

With its physical gags, linguistic jokes and vivid characters, The Merry Wives of Windsor celebrates the foundations of the modern TV sitcom. Luscombe, once a Shakespearean comedic actor himself, takes full advantage of this witty and affable script, directing a production full of irresistible charm-complemented by vibrant designs from Janet Bird and a lively score from composer Nigel Hess.

The Merry Wives of Windsor was the hit of Shakespeare's Globe's 2008 season and was even more popular when it returned this past summer. In 2008 The Evening Standard exclaimed, "Good Queen Bess herself would surely have beamed at this delightful take on that royal command script, quite the best and freshest work I've seen at the Globe." The Times of London hailed it as a "wonderfully warm comedy, stuffed with belly laughs. Making broad Shakespearean comedy funny for a 21st century audience often feels a stretch. But in his hectically paced, sitcom-inspired production of Merry Wives, Christopher Luscombe succeeds triumphantly."

This past summer, critics were equally enthusiastic about The Merry Wives. The Financial Times raved, "Christopher Luscombe's production was a hit here two years ago and has lost none of its warmth and sparkle." "This is an absolute joy," Time Out London commended. "We may be moving into the colder months, but it's sure to spread sunshine wherever it goes." The Daily Telegraph said the comedy "keeps you chuckling throughout. I cannot recommend it too highly. Those in search of a theatrical treat need to look no further." And praised Mail on Sunday, "Of all the productions I've seen in Shakespeare's Globe, this one works best."

Performances run from October 28 to November 7:
Monday-Saturday at 7:30pm, Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm.
Tickets range from $40 for Balcony seats to $75 for Orchestra seats.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.pace.edu/culture.

The Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University is located at 3 Spruce Street. The box office and theater entrance are located on Spruce Street, near the corner of Gold.

Cultural Affairs at Pace University
On the New York City campus, the 743-seat Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts has presented a wide range of cultural programs and public events for the campus and surrounding community since 1969. In addition to student productions and special events, the Michael Schimmel Center hosts professional theatre, music, and dance, as well as international companies such as the Beijing People's Art Theatre. The theatre is also a vital venue for Robert De Niro's annual Tribeca Film Festival and the River-to-River Festival.

About Shakespeare's Globe
Shakespeare's Globe is a charitable trust which has an educational remit to make Shakespeare's works and The Playhouse for which he wrote, available to the widest possible audience. The reconstructed Globe theatre has become one of the most popular visitor destinations in the UK, at the heart of the regeneration of London's Bankside, welcoming approximately 750,000 visitors a year. For additional information, please visit Shakespeare's Globe Theatre's website.

 

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