Les joyeuses Bourgeoises de Windsor

Set in the lively town of Windsor, the play opens with Sir John Falstaff—boisterous, greedy, and ever‑looking for a quick profit—plotting to swindle two affluent, sharp‑witted wives. Mistress Ford and Mistress Page, both devoted to their households and each other’s secrets, quickly sense Falstaff’s ulterior motives and decide to give him a taste of his own medicine. Their clever banter and coordinated schemes turn the streets of Windsor into a stage for farcical misunderstandings and playful deception.

As Falstaff tries to juggle his false courtships, the audience is treated to a cascade of witty wordplay, mistaken identities, and comic confrontations that expose the folly of his pretensions. The two wives, far from passive victims, wield their intelligence to outmaneuver the rotund rogue, turning his own vanity against him. The first act sets a bright, bustling tone, promising a delightful romp through love, greed, and the timeless art of turning tricks on the trickster himself.