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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
marlamoreau's review against another edition
3.25
3.25/5. This wasn't very interesting to read in comparison to other Shakespearean works, just a low brow, quick read, comedy of errors that doesn't hold a candle to works like A Midsummer Night's Dream. *However*, I think this would be hilarious to watch on stage, and I think I will look up a recording of the play on YouTube. I primarily read this to prepare for a book in the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde where The Merry Wives of Windsor starts to get mixed up with Hamlet. I didn't have any familiarity with Falstaff prior to this read, but I'll eventually get around to reading Henry IV so I can understand what so many reviewers are talking about.
kaitlynlw_04's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
danon17's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.25
Good stuff. Have to imagine this was a big old crowdpleaser back in 15-whatever. Did find it hard to track the different characters in the "wooing Anne" subplot - feel like that's an element you need to see on stage really. The doctor's accent reads like a real hodgepodge of Western Europe - but maybe that was just true of French accents at the time??
gondorsfinest's review against another edition
5.0
My uni club wasn’t sure about Merry Wives in the beginning. It was really boring to read.
Then we started putting on some scenes and almost peed ourselves laughing. We rolled Falstaff around in a big plastic rainwater barrel filled with heart-patterned boxers. He accidentally called Mistress Ford „Mistress Page“ on stage. We gave Shallow a walker and he gave prime grumpy grandpa. Since we played in German, our Evans had a very country-esque Swabian accent. Ford had a terrible Russian accent as „Brook“.
We had so much fun, and the audience loved it. I never would have expected that from just the text. It’s truly one of those plays you have to SEE.
Then we started putting on some scenes and almost peed ourselves laughing. We rolled Falstaff around in a big plastic rainwater barrel filled with heart-patterned boxers. He accidentally called Mistress Ford „Mistress Page“ on stage. We gave Shallow a walker and he gave prime grumpy grandpa. Since we played in German, our Evans had a very country-esque Swabian accent. Ford had a terrible Russian accent as „Brook“.
We had so much fun, and the audience loved it. I never would have expected that from just the text. It’s truly one of those plays you have to SEE.
sarabearian's review against another edition
I’ve rarely enjoyed anything by Shakespeare but this was different than any other play I’ve read. It’s one of the few books I’ve literally laughed out loud while reading. The comedy is absolutely outrageous and, relative to Shakespeare’s other plays, a pretty easy read. The plot follows multiple romance stories and, as in Shakespeare’s other comedies, it quickly gets more and more messy and more and more funny. -Benjamin H., Teen Advisory Board Reviewer
julshakespeare's review against another edition
3.0
3/5 stars, full review to come! I’m all for sticking it to Falstaff but what a roundabout, bizarre way to do it.
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 2/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 2/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
tzadik's review against another edition
2.0
By far the worst of Shakespeare’s plays I’ve read. While it is nice to meet Falstaff once more, none of the other characters come to life, and the humor rarely works. Even the greatest of the greatest have their off days, it seems.