The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival is back on its stunning outdoor stage at Filipponi Ranch in San Luis Obispo to present The Merry Wives of Windsor every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night through Aug. 10.
Sir John Falstaff (played by Mark Kassen), Shakespeare’s rotund, vain, often drunk knight, is reduced to a buffoonish, good-natured suitor who plans to reverse his misfortune by courting two wealthy married women. The husbands learn of his plot and set about on a quest for revenge, embarrassing and pranking their wives’ would-be lover. Of course, there are other characters with suitors of their own and plenty of meddling going on.
Shakespeare explores love, marriage, jealously and revenge, and wealth and social class with humor, a duel, and an accidental gay marriage. Sexual innuendo? But of course. Double entendre? Would it be Shakespeare without it?
Purchase tickets at centralcoastshakespeare.org and find your way to the grassy knoll fronted by a two-story stage.
Patrons are invited to bring a picnic, a standard-sized lawn chair, and dress in layers. Wine is available for purchase, and the ranch is located at 1850 Calle Joaquin, SLO. No outside alcohol is allowed.
This article appears in Aug 7-17, 2025.