Monday, August 3, 7PM, Shipyard Park, 13th street behind Kings, Hoboken, NJ

Monday, August 10, 7PM, Sinatra Park, 411 Frank Sinatra Drive, Hoboken, NJ
Thursday, August 13, 8PM, Ellsworth Park, 23rd Street & Palisade Avenue, Union City, NJ
Monday, August 17, 7PM, Sinatra Park, 411 Frank Sinatra Drive, Hoboken, NJ
Thursday, August 20, 7PM, Van Vorst Park, Montogomery St & Jersey Avenue, Jersey City, NJ
(Rain Date Friday, August 21, 7PM)

The screw ball comedy closes out the theme of the “Mature Comedies” season preceded by last month’s “Troilus and Cressida and “The Winter’s Tale”.

Set in the provincial town of Windsor, England, outside one of the royal country castles, the story opens with the fat knight and career con artist of the Henry IV plays, Sir John Falstaff (Tony White) taking a break from the royal wars and trying out his scams and pick pocketing on the good citizens. Falstaff, finding that his pocket is getting a little thin decides to unleash his “romantic prowess” on the well to do wives Mrs. Page (Tzena Nicole) and Mrs. Ford (Elizabeth Pickett) and steal their purses at the same time.

Sending long winded, romantic letters to each wife, the ladies are intrigued, but aghast at being contacted by the swarmy knight. They compare notes and find that literally they are the same with only their names switched out. Not taking, the romantic form letters and or the attention well, the wives decided to give the would-be Romeo a taste of his own medicine by playing along.

Assisting the wives, although unwillingly is the ultra jealous husband Mr. Ford (Daniel Lugo). After being informed by one of Falstaff’s cronies that Falstaff has designs on his wife, Ford is so jealous that he dons a disguise to lure Falstaff and catch him in the act. As Falstaff arrives at the Ford household for the illicit rendezvous, Mr. Ford arrives with several other townspeople to catch him and run him out of town. Ford, however, is outwitted by the wives at every turn as Falstaff escapes first in a heap of dirty clothes and then cross dressing as an old woman. Mr. Ford frustratingly is made to look like even more of a jealous fool in front of his friends. Along the way, there is a war of accents French, Welsh, cockney, and a Host of others in the comic subplot to obtain the hand of the fair Anne Page, daugh ter to Mrs. Page.

All shows are free, it is recommended to bring either a lawn chair or blanket to each park showing. For more information, please visit hudsonshakespeare.org or call 973 449 7443

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