Picture it: Miami. 1987. A successful television show ends after seven seasons to everyone's chagrin. Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia live on in all of our hearts as we watch reruns of "The Golden Girls" over a mound of cheesecake and a bottle of wine. But what if, through some strange bit of Hollywood magic, they were able to come back for a new season? And what if the first episode of that season included the girls doing Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor"? The gay gasps would be deafening. Good news, Slipstream Theatre Initiative reimagines Shakespeare's comedy as just that – and invites you to a live filming of Season 8, episode 1: "The Golden Girls do Merry Wives!" now through Aug. 4.
The Merry Wives of Windsor is the story of Mistresses Page and Ford, two women of a certain age with more than a little wit and spunk. Mistress Ford has a terribly jealous husband who is sure he will catch his wife in an act of infidelity and sets out to prove himself right. Meanwhile, Sir John Falstaff, a rascal of a different sort, has devised a way to seduce both women and make some money in the process. A nosy neighbor and a much-sought-after daughter add to the frenzy and the result is madness and shenanigans as only the Bard could create.
Slipstream's newly titled "The Merry Wives of Miami" features powerhouse Michigan actors Mandy Logsdon (as Betty White as Rose Nylund as Mistress Ford), Jan Cartwright (as Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak as Mistress Page), Luna Alexander (as Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux as Anne Page) and Linda Rabin Hammell (as Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo as Mistress Quickly). The rest of the cast includes Patrick O'Lear (as the scandalous buffoon John Falstaff), Ryan Ernst (as the jealous rapscallion Master Ford), Jake Rydell (as the sex-starved French Doctor Caius), Alex "Cookie" Isenberg (as bro-er than thou suitor to Anne Page, Master Slender), Tiaja Sabrie (as the unfazed and incessantly chef-tastic Master Page) and Grace Trivax (as an in-over-her-head Floor Manager who has to take on various roles due to the Child Actors Union being on strike).
This production is directed by Bailey Boudreau with Alanna Elling serving as stage manager. Jackson Abohasira is the technical designer, and Tiaja Sabrie is the costume designer. Photography is by Jan Cartwright and graphic design is by Esbee Creative.
Tickets can be purchased at slipstreamti.com, by emailing [email protected] or calling 313-986-9156.
Slipstream does 'The Merry Wives of Miami'
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