Oh no! I'm back at the histories!

It was the histories that killed me. I couldn't get through Henry IV Part 2 and I just stopped altogether. Now I've read almost everything else and I just have to power through them. Next up: The Merry Wives of Windsor. Not strictly a history, but more of a spin-off from the Henry IV plays. I hope it's delightful at least. Here I go.

Day 168: What I Learned from The Merry Wives of Windsor...part 1

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Well, as you can see, it's blank. I haven't read it yet. I am now TWO plays behind, which is the most I've lagged since I started this project. This isn't a good sign. Is this the end of My Year of Shakespeare? I hope not.

From "The Simpsons" Treehouse of Horror III, "Dial 'Z' for Zombies"
Episode #64 (Season 4, Episode 5), Original Airdate: October 29, 1992
gif source: tumblr.com

Day 164: Live in New Orleans? You can go see 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' RIGHT NOW

Photo credit: John Barrois -- Starring in Tulane Shakespeare Festival's production of 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' are Anne Page, played by Susan Lanigan, and Fenton, played by Joey Pilka. Source: The Advocate

If you're anywhere near New Orleans this month, you can check out "The Merry Wives of Windsor" as part of the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane University. It opens today for a total of 11 performances over three weekends, ending on June 29.

For more details, check out this article in The Advocate:

http://theadvocate.com/utility/homepagestories/6171843-129/merry-wives-of-windsor-kicks

Day 163: Merry Wives of Windsor word cloud

I can't get enough of these Shakespeare word clouds! I like how this one is arranged all helter skelter. It reminds me of a bunch of dropped sewing needles. MISTRESS must be said a lot!

Day 162: New Play Tuesday! The Merry Wives of Windsor

I think I'll take a break from the heavy histories* with another comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor. It couldn't be more appropriate, since the character of Falstaff, introduced in Henry IV (possibly a combination of the real Sir John Fastolf, who appears in Henry VI, and John Oldcastle, who had living relatives at the time of Shakespeare that apparently stopped him from writing about their beloved buffoon of an ancestor) has a starring role in this one. Rumour has it Queen Elizabeth I herself requested Shakespeare write the play, so as to give Falstaff a love life. Fantastic! 

Serena Evans, Christopher Benjamin and Sarah Woodward in The Globe Theatre's 2008 production of The Merry Wives of  Windsor
via

How can you not love a play that has reindeer antlers? (Not to mention multiple female roles, which not every Shakespeare play does)

*It's not REALLY a break, since I'm still behind on the histories and have to finish Henry IV Part II.