Letter to an actress:

Merry Wives is set in 1905-15 Windsor, England enhancing and extending the idea of ASF's "British Season" with 39 Steps, Travels With My Aunt and Henry VIII.
The set for Merry Wives is in autumnal colors (the text has an autumnal feeling) with a distinct pop-up book look in Art Nouveau/Tiffany window style. The town houses are framed by a proscenium arch in abstracted stained glass rendering of autumn trees. The houses are movable rotating carts - one side exterior, other interior. The distant vista is of the green grounds surrounding Windsor Castle and a view of the castle itself. The final scene of the play, which shifts to Windsor Great Park, features a Herne's Oak that is very much in abstracted Tiffany style!
It's a middle class play. Unlike most Shakespeare, not a noble in sight. I'm thinking about having Royals pass in an imaginary progress so Falstaff can bow. After all, Windsor is the royal seat.
As you know, I was over there, In early December collecting impressions.
Mistress Page and Ford are younger and sexier than often portrayed. Maybe a little touch of the Absolutely Fabulous. But wives of shopkeepers of Windsor, a town totally in service to the castle.I loved the feel of the original publicity shot. The ladies are completely delirious companions!!
There will be cuts -- for the sake of clarity and time.
Looking forward to your presence in our fair city!
Diana