The Merry Wives of Windsor
Sir John Falstaff and his hangers-on, Bardolph, Pistol and Nym, have been outraging Windsor society with their rowdy behaviour. Justice Shallow, his nephew Slender and Parson Evans - newly arrived from Gloucestershire - are discussing what can be done about Falstaff.
Another hot topic is who will marry Anne Page, the daughter of a wealthy local family. Slender is one of the suitors, and the one favoured by Anne's father. Parson Evans and Shallow engage Mistress Quickly, housekeeper to the French physician Dr Caius and a friend of Anne's to advance their cause. Dr Caius however, is himself a suitor - the favourite of Anne's mother - and Quickly is already acting on his behalf. When Dr Caius hears of Evans' interference, he challenges him to a duel. Fenton, a rather dashing young gentleman, makes up the trio of hopeful suitors but against opposition from both parents.
Being down on his luck, Sir John plans to restore his fortunes by seducing the wife of one of Windsor's wealthy citizens. Convinced that Alice Ford is already attracted to him, he sends her a love letter and, for good measure, sends another, identical, letter to Meg, George Page's wife. Unfortunately for him, Meg and Alice are close friends and when they compare their letters they soon discover his double-dealing. They set about turning the tables on Sir John and, employing Mistress Quickly as their go-between, summon him to an assignation at Mistress Ford's house.
When the two husbands hear of Falstaff's intentions Page treats the idea lightly but Ford, who is of a jealous nature, immediately resolves to test his wife's fidelity. Introducing himself to Falstaff as 'Master Brook', a suitor Mistress Ford has rejected, he begs Sir John to woo her on his behalf and, thus gaining his confidence, he gets to hear the assignations Falstaff has already arranged with Mistress Ford. Twice Ford almost catches Sir John and his wife together.
The duel between Dr Caius and Parson Evans is averted when the Host of the Garter Inn plays a trick on them; in Windsor Great Park on Hallowe'en, Falstaff is set up for his final punishment - and one of Anne Page's suitors is successful...
