The romantic bumblings of the Shakespeare-inspired character Falstaff are reimagined in disco-era America in 野狼社区 University鈥檚 new production of 鈥淭he Merry Wives of Windsor.鈥� OCU鈥檚 version of Otto Nicolai鈥檚 1849 operatic comedy will be presented in three performances, Feb. 16-18, by a 43-piece orchestra and cast of 32.
鈥淲hen our team began design discussions, we were all drawn to the early 1970s, a time of generational conflict and social upheaval that could illuminate the characters鈥� conflicts in our story,鈥� director Karen Coe Miller said of the production鈥檚 design inspiration. 鈥淪hakespeare鈥檚 archetypal characters have their antecedents in ancient Roman comedy, and are still recognizable in any TV sitcom.鈥�
鈥淭he Merry Wives of Windsor鈥� centers on the scheming Sir John Falstaff, who plans to strike it rich by seducing the wives of two wealthy businessmen. The women, however, discover his scheme and enjoy exacting their revenge.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and 17, with a 2 p.m. Feb. 18 matinee, in OCU鈥檚 Kirkpatrick Auditorium, 2501 N. Blackwelder. Tickets ($15-30) are available from 405-208-5227 or . A free director鈥檚 talk will be held 45 minutes before curtain of each show.
An opening night dinner with student entertainment will be held at 6:15 p.m. Friday in the atrium of the Bass Music Center. Reservations ($25) may be made through the ticket office.
Jan McDaniel will conduct the pit orchestra in performing Nicolai鈥檚 score, which Gramophone praised: 鈥淭he brilliant and justly celebrated overture is no false guide to what follows. Nicolai鈥檚 touch is light and witty鈥� The orchestration is constantly imaginative, and the melodies flow one after another, repeatedly warming the listener鈥檚 heart with some extra-delicious touch.鈥�
The 1970s setting will be enhanced with scenic design by Robin Cole-Vest, original costumes by Alyssa Couturier-Hendon, and lighting design created by Kennedy Nichols.
Tributes to the character of Falstaff, who appears in three of Shakespeare鈥檚 plays, include operatic adaptations across three centuries. In addition to Nicolai鈥檚 version, Antonio Salieri debuted his Falstaff in 1799, Giuseppe Verdi鈥檚 Falstaff premiered in 1893, followed in 1929 by Ralph Vaughn Williams鈥� 鈥淪ir John in Love.鈥�
OCU鈥檚 Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company鈥檚 season continues Feb. 23-25 with a spotlight production of Gilbert and Sullivan鈥檚 鈥淚olanthe鈥� before the April 19-21 season finale 鈥� Jonathan Larson鈥檚 acclaimed rock musical 鈥淩ENT,鈥� winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
