Rogue pirate John Falstaff -Shakespeare’s greatest comic creation- deludes himself into thinking that Mistress Ford and Mistress Page are in love with him. He arranges to secretly meet them in the Ford’s home for a tryst. Unfortunately, Master Ford -who is insanely jealous when it comes to his wife- disguises himself and meets with Falstaff where he finds out about the secret rendezvous. Ford swears to be revenged (if only he can catch Falstaff in the act). Meanwhile, the merry wives of the title decide to teach Falstaff a painful lesson in love that he will never forget.

Hamlet
by William Shakespeare
Directed by George M. Roesler
July 1, 3, 9, 17, 22 and 30

Revenge is at the heart and soul of Hamlet. Claudius has murdered his way to the throne of Denmark, taken the widowed Queen as his wife, and usurped a crown intended for Prince Hamlet. Hamlet's suspicions of wrong- doing are confirmed, or at least encouraged, by the Ghost of his murdered father. From this point on Hamlet is driven, by whatever means, to revenge. Witness as the play unfolds, each character struggle to conquer that "dram of evil" present in the soul of us all. "So shall you hear of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts..."

The Rivals
by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Directed by Stuart Naber
July 8, 10, 16, 24 and 29

Jack Absolute must play the part of penniless junior officer in order to woo Lydia, a hopeless romantic who yearns for a daring elopement. But Lydia's guardian, Mrs. Malaprop (an infamous mangler of the English language), disapproves of the relationship and is determined to find her a more suitable match. At the same time, Jack's friend, Faulkland, torments his fiancée, Julia, with imagined jealousies. These two couples must overcome the problems of their own making in this parody of conventional romance.