Merry Wives by William Shakespeare Adapted by Jocelyn Bioh

by Jocelyn Bioh

THE Set in South Harlem, amidst a vibrant and eclectic community of West African immigrants, MERRY WIVES is a New York story about tricks of the heart. A raucous spinoff featuring the Bard’s most beloved comic characters, this hilarious farce tells the story of the trickster Falstaff and the wily wives who outwit him in a celebration of Black joy, laughter, and vitality.

Genres: Plays

67 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[mengwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

bro THAT WAS SO. GOOOOOOOOOD!!! thank God The Public has it’s version on PBS bc im ON THATTTTTT 🤩🤩🤩 also who is producing this soon i wanna do it

[Jack Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Bioh adapts Merry Wives of Windsor without making big tweaks to the plot, Black joy in a post pandemic world is palpable from the first scene. I really liked the adaptive choices she made with some of the characters, with queer elements being examined in a fun way (especially with her approach to Fenton), and the wives reveling in making mischief for Falstaff. My favorite moment was Doctor Caius's challenge for Pastor Evans. It was blunt, direct, and caught me off guard in the best way possible.