The Merry Wives of Windsor

Production Company
Bard in the Valley
Producer(s)
Brad Hendy
Director(s)
Dylan Coulter
Casting Director(s): 
Dylan Coulter
Union Status
Non-Union
Project Type
Theatre / Live Performance
Student Production
No
Compensation Details

$500 honorarium for all performers.

Audition Date(s)
Sunday February 23rd, Wednesday February 26th, Callbacks Sunday, March 2nd
Audition Location
Langley, BC. Exact location to be confirmed closer to audition date.
Shoot / Performance Date(s)
June 27, 28, 29, July 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11,12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
Township 7 Winery & Douglas Park Spirit Square Stage, Langley, BC
Submission Deadline
Friday, February 21, 2025
Submission Instructions

Please email headshot and resume in one document to auditions@bardinthevalley.com to submit for an audition time slot. Auditions will be booked for 10 minute time slots. If you would like to request a particular day, or time of day, please note this in your email. We will do our best to accomodate all requiests.

No prepared text is required. Actors will be asked to "cold read" a scene with a partner. Actors will be provided a short text and asked to read over the text with a partner prior to the audition.

Project Synopsis
Sir John Falstaff is broke! While on a getaway from the busyness of court, vacationing on the sunny beaches of England at the lavish, if slightly shabby, Garter Hotel, John’s fortunes take a turn. The disgraced knight finds that his funds have run dry. Falstaff is sure that by using his charms he can solve this dilemma and rescue his vacation, returning to a time of revelling and relaxation. All he must do is seduce one of two wealthy (and married) local ladies. They will surely provide him with the funds he needs for a good time. Unfortunately, these married women find out that Falstaff is wooing them both. Doubly unfortunately, so do their husbands. As hijinx ensue surrounding Falstaff’s designs on lust and money, we are treated to one of Shakespeare’s most outrageous comedies. Other denizens of the town are also swept up in the silliness of this plot, and they also find that their own amorous adventures also go awry. The play closes with a rebuke of shallowness and greed, of marriage for station and convenience, and reminds us to respect our spouses and trust our hearts. Finally, Falstaff gets what he deserves and is punished with… well, not much at all really, but do we mind? He’s just so much fun.
Additional Information & Safety Protocols: 

www.bardinthevalley.com

We are in the practice of working with intimacy co-ordinators when the production calls for it.

Character 1
John Falstaff
Age
40+
Gender
Male
Description
A debaucherous Knight, old and unfit, more used to robbing those who pass by than protecting them. Down on his luck, confident in his charms.
Character 2
Mistress Ford
Age
30's to 50's
Gender
Female
Description
A middle-aged, well-regarded Lady, married to a well-to-do husband. Seeks revenge on Falstaff when he sends identical love letters to both her and Mistress Page.
Character 3
Mistress Page
Age
30's to 50's
Gender
Female
Description
A middle aged, well-regarded Lady, married to a well-to-do husband. Seeks revenge on Falstaff when he sends identical love letters to both her and Mistress Ford. She also wishes to find a suitor for her daughter, Anne.
Character 4
Frank Ford
Age
30's to 50's
Gender
Male
Description
Mistress Ford’s wealthy and jealous husband, who seeks to discover his wife’s infidelity, and catch Falstaff.
Character 5
George Page
Age
30's to 50's
Gender
Male
Description
Mistress Page’s wealthy and trusting husband. He seeks a suitor for his daughter, Anne.
Additional Characters

Bardolph (Any gender, any age) A companion of Falstaff, a vagabond and a ruffian.

Pistol (Any gender, any age) A companion to Falstaff, a cowardly but boastful soldier.

Anne Page (Female, Age 18-30) George and Margaret’s daughter, a young woman who seeks to marry for love, and to avoid the many suitors that have been put in her path. She is in love with the gentleman Fenton.

The Host (Any gender, any age) The host and concierge of The Garter Hotel. Often involved with the mischief of the play, but ultimately seeks to find his guests a peaceful, restful stay in the hotel.

Parson Hugh Evans (Any gender, any age) A Welsh Parson of the town. Seeks to help his friend, Abraham Slender, to marry Anne Page, and to keep the peace amongst the squabbling nobles.

Doctor Caius (Any gender, any age) A French Doctor, in love with Anne Page.

Mistress Quickly (Female, any age) Servant to Doctor Caius. Involved with much mischief, helping the wives with their revenge, and assisting all suitors in their bids for Anne’s hand.

Justice Robert Shallow (Any gender, age 50+) An aged Judge, seeking for his young cousin Abraham Slender to marry Anne Page.

Abraham Slender (Male, age 18-30) A young foppish gentleman, uninterested in marriage, but willingly led into it by those around him.

Fenton (Male, age 18-30) A young, worthy gentleman and the true love of Anne Page.