Next Performance - The Merry Wives of Windsor by Otto Nicolai

Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy - Wednesday 5th November to Saturday 8th November

Wednesday to Friday performances at 7.15 p.m, Saturday at 2.15 p.m

Geman composer, Otto Nicolai's, treatment of Shakespeare's play may not be as well-known as that of Giuseppe Verdi but Nicolai does remain truer to the original and he creates a highly amusing account which is, perhaps, surprisingly rarely performed. This is by far the most successful of his operas and although he died, aged 39, only two months after the opera was first performed (in 1849) he did conduct the first four performances and realised he had a success.

Sir John Falstaff is a larger than life character with an eye for the ladies and, as the opera opens, is pursuing Mistress Ford and Mistress Page. Mistress Ford, who is furious with all men including her husband, decides that she will lead Falstaff on, to teach him and her husband a lesson.

The Page's daughter, Anne, is pursued by three suitors and her father has promised her hand to Slender while she is really in love with Fenton.

As the opera unfolds these two different threads intertwine in a series of comic scenes, including Falstaff hiding in a linen basket while Ford frantically searches his house and later Falstaff disguised as a woman to avoid detection, until all is finally and happily resolved.

Follow this link to inquire about tickets for the performance.