THE HANGOVER REPORT – The joyously adapted and performed MERRY WIVES marks the triumphant return of Shakespeare in the Park

The company of the Shakespeare in the Park production of Jocelyn Bioh’s “Merry Wives” (after Shakespeare) at the Delacorte Theatre (photo by Joan Marcus).

Last night, the Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Merry Wives opened at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park (it was recently announced that the production will enjoy an extended run through September 18). Jocelyn Bioh’s adaptation – which got off to a somewhat rocky start marred by injury and positive Covid cases – of Shakespeare’s frivolous revenge comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor marks the triumphant and much anticipated return of the Public Theater’s venerated New York summer theatrical tradition since pre-pandemic times and is a significant milestone in the re-emergence of the performing arts in the city.

Ms. Bioh’s adaptation streamlines and updates the Bard’s play to current day Harlem, sure-footedly delivering the spirited high jinks of the underlying play through the lens of the wide, richly diverse spectrum of Black culture. Indeed, her work exhibits the same fresh vitality and infectious energy as her hit play School Girls Or, The African Mean Girls Play, which enjoyed two highly successful, critically acclaimed runs at MCC Theatre (the Off-Broadway theater company will also host Ms. Bioh’s latest play, Nollywood Dreams, this fall). In spirit, the works registers as a cross between your typical Shakespeare in the Park offering and one of Public Works’ truncated but joyous late summer adaptations (which are also presented at the Delacorte).

The handsomely mounted production (which features a scenic coup at the show’s climax that took my breath away) has been breezily and buoyantly directed by the Public’s Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director Saheem Ali. Mr. Ali is well positioned for the job after having helmed two fascinating podcast productions of a pair of Shakespeare’s plays (a Black Richard II and a Latinx/bilingual Romeo & Juliet) during lockdown. The all-Black cast is sensational from top to bottom, giving broad, inspired performances that had me grinning throughout. Particular standouts are Jacob Ming-Trent (Falstaff), Shola Adewusi (Mama Quickly), and Susan Kelechi Watson (Madam Nkechi Ford) – all three strike comic gold.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

MERRY WIVES
Off-Broadway, Play / In-person
The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park
1 hour, 50 minutes (without an intermission)
Through September 18

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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