The Merchant of Venice
Festival Main Stage – July 8th to August 21st, 2010
Bassanio wants to marry our rich heroine Portia but he needs a loan from his friend Antonio (the Merchant of Venice) to woo her in style. Antonio has invested all his money in ships at sea forcing him to borrow on behalf of his best friend. Shylock, the rich Jew and moneylender, makes the funds available; but cocky Antonio, setting the stakes high, pledges a pound of his own flesh if he forfeits payment. “This is classified as a comedy,” you ask. Enter young Launcelot Gobo, one of Shakespeare’s best clowns; then add girls disguised as boys pulling pranks on their husbands to be; include prospects of weddings at the finale and you have one of the finest plays that Shakespeare ever wrote. The Merchant of Venice is a show that everyone will enjoy.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Festival Main Stage – July 7th to August 22nd, 2010
Sir John Falstaff is running low on party funds so he hatches a clever scheme to hustle two wealthy women. A little love and a lot of money is his goal. Sir John has heard that his targets, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page, have control of their husbands’ money. Unfortunately, for Sir John, these merry wives are not just wealthy; they are wise and witty. The two women conspire with a scheme of their own that makes Sir John rue the day. Queen Elizabeth wanted to see Sir John Falstaff in a comedy and Shakespeare delivered with flare. The Merry Wives of Windsor is a fast pace farce that will make everyone, young and old alike, giggle and snort and laugh.
Matinee performances begin at 1:00pm
Evening performances begin at 8:00pm
Pre-Show Chats with the Artistic Director are free and start at 7:30pm in the Elizabethan Village
Post-Show Talkbacks with the Artistic Director and cast to follow the performance (approximately 10:00pm)
Medieval Feasts include a meal and entertainment before the main-stage performance. Seating is limited. Details TBA.
Official Website: http://www.shakespeareonthesaskatchewan.com