'Come, gentlemen, I hope that we shall drink down all unkindness' Amused by the larger than life character featured in Shakespeare's Henry IV, there is a traditional story that Shakespeare was asked to write a play about Falstaff in love, by royal command. So we may have Queen Elizabeth I to thank for this enduring Tudor romp through the lanes and fields of Windsor. The play is a reflection of English country life and is unusual in the fact that most of his characters are ordinary folk; part of a new and growing middle class, wealthy and aspiring, but with solid peasant roots. Karl Marx found 'on the first act alone more life and movement than in all German literature'! Few serious critics have shared Marx's view but the play has always been popular with audiences and has been the source of two well-known operas by Verdi and Vaughan Williams. This may not be the same Falstaff as the earlier plays as he becomes the butt of others' jokes rather than being the confident and eloquent perpetrator of his own. However, Dr Johnson believed that the play's 'general power is such that, perhaps, it never yet had a reader or spectator who did not think it too soon at an end'. The plot creates the perfect recipe for a lively and entertaining evening. As a setting nothing could be more appropriate than the courtyard of 'The George'. We hope, in this production, to capture the real spirit of the play for your delight, in what we trust will be a truly memorable experience. Cast SIR JOHN FALSTAFF Jim Inwood ROBIN, his page Christopher Owen Followers of Falstaff BARDOLPH Peter Hughes PISTOL Chris Dawn NYM Phil Cox MASTER FRANCIS FORD, a citizen of Windsor John Shippey MISTRESS ALICE FORD, his wife Carolyn Noble His servants JOHN Alan Caspall ROBERT Peter Hughes MASTER GEORGE PAGE, a citizen of Windsor Michael Williamson MISTRESS MARGARET PAGE, his wife Maggie Caspall MISTRESS ANNE PAGE, their daughter Nathanya Ginsberg MASTER WILLIAM PAGE, their son Jasper Fishwick MARY, Anne's friend Rachel Silver MASTER ROBERT SHALLOW, a Justice of the Peace Derrick Scothern MASTER ABRAHAM SLENDER, his nephew David Cooper MISTRESS SIMPLE, Slender's servant Pam Nicholls DR CAIUS, a French Doctor Michael Black MISTRESS QUICKLY, his housekeeper Collette Parker JOHN RUGBY, his servant Martin Richardson MASTER FENTON, a young gentleman Peter Fishwick SIR HUGH EVANS, a Welsh Parson Dominic Whitehead THE HOSTESS of the Garter Inn at Windsor Susie Williams CHILDREN OF WINDSOR Lizzie Bloxham, Hayley Gregory, Laura Hading, James Skinner Production Team Director Mo Pearce Stage Manager Malcolm Lyons Assisted by Bob Pugh, Gary Mackay Set Designer Colin Chalk Stage Construction Kirton Construction Ltd. Costume Team Wendy Usher, Terry Dick, Mo Pearce, Jo Fradley Continuity Ruth Sherrington Photographs Simon Ellis ABIPP AMPA Lighting Design Andy Kendon Sound Design Gerry Davison, Amanda Leaden Make-Up Graeme Hammond and team Publicity Marline Peulevé, Dee Wormald Box Office Cheryl Cook, Michael Cook Front of House & Sales Trish James assisted by Sandra Sturgeon, Samantha Sturgeon, Karen James, Emma Kibbey, Andy Kibbey and Team Production Team Peter Barton, Roger Blackmore, Adam Bright, Mary Fishwick, June Forway, Sarah Griffiths, Pat Hamilton, Graeme Hammond, Rachael Hankinson, Lesley Harling, Chris Hunnam, Mel Pugsley, Maggie Redgrave, Ruth Sherrington, Kate Tweedly, Mark Usher and Team.