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Shakespeare & Beyond

The notable Shakespeare editor Nicholas Rowe wrote in 1709 that Queen Elizabeth liked Falstaff’s character so much in the Henry IV plays that she commanded Shakespeare to write another play with Falstaff, and to show him in love.

Like the queen, do you find yourself wanting more Falstaff? You can catch him this summer at Nebraska Shakespeare, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Shakespeare Dallas. All three are staging The Merry Wives of Windsor, and OSF is also presenting Henry IV Part 1 (running through October) and Henry IV Part 2 (opening in July).

At OSF, Falstaff is portrayed by a man, G. Valmont Thomas, in both the Henry plays, but by a woman, K. T. Vogt, in Merry Wives. Vogt appeared in an OSF all-female production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 2014 as Launce.