Shakespeare by the Sea features world premiere of Falstaff

Stacy Daniel
42 minutes ago
2 min read

**Veteran actor Patrick Price brings Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff to life on stage. [Photo by Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival]**

Audiences can expect laughter, mischief and a larger-than-life personality this summer as the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival, the longest-running Shakespeare festival in Florida, unveils a bold production centered on one of William Shakespeare’s most beloved characters.

As part of its 36th annual Shakespeare by the Sea series, the festival will present the world premiere of “Falstaff,” an original adaptation written by Artistic Director Trent Stephens. The production weaves together scenes from “Henry IV,” “Henry V” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” to tell the story of the iconic rogue.

“Falstaff is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring characters,” Managing Producer Elizabeth Dashiell says. “This production gives us the opportunity to explore his full arc, his humor, his flaws and his humanity in a way audiences haven’t seen before.”

Merging multiple works into a single narrative was no small task. “You’re talking about massive works of theater that you’re trying to consolidate,” Stephens says. “You try to go in with a scalpel instead of a chainsaw, but, at the end of the day, sometimes you have to cut entire scenes to make it work.”

**Patrick Price as Falstaff [Photo by the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival]**

The result is a fast-paced, accessible production designed with outdoor audiences in mind. Performances take place at the Seabreeze Amphitheater in Jupiter, where the natural setting shapes the experience as much as the script.

“Thinking about people’s comfort is key,” Stephens says. “They’re outside in the elements, so we really try to keep the story moving. As Shakespeare says, ‘Brevity is the soul of wit.’”

**The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival presents outdoor theater at sunset. [Photo by Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival]**

At the heart of the production is Falstaff, a character whose humor and appetite for life resonate through the centuries.

“He loves life,” Stephens says. “For better or for worse, he’s driven by pleasure and joy. That love of life is contagious, and it’s what makes audiences want to be right there with him.…

“You don’t want to be in the stuffy court, and you don’t want to be with the rebels. You want to be in the Hogshead Tavern. And I think every audience wants to be among Falstaff’s cohort.”

Stephens says the festival’s mission is just as important as the performance.

“For 36 years, our shows have been free and open to the public,” he says. “We produce in spaces without walls or doors or ticket booths because the cultural arts belong to everybody.”