Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Merry Wives Goes to Harlem and Gives Us a Side-Splitting Afrocentric Take on the Classic

Merry Wives
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Jordan Wright
September 16, 2025

Felicia Curry (Madam Nkechi Ford) and Oneika Phillips (Madam Ekua Page) in ‘Merry Wives’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company. (Photo/Teresa Castracane Photography)

Take Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor and flip it on its head to reflect an African American neighborhood in New York’s Harlem. In Merry Wives, a re-imagining of the classic, a hair-braiding salon sits next to a coin-operated laundromat. In Scenic Designer Lawrence E. Moten III’s sets, brownstones replete with window air conditioner, bracket the commercial establishments and a NYC subway stop’s iconic green, wrought iron railings juts out from stage right – perfect for entrances and exits. It’s a jaw-dropping multi-level set that affords the cast of 14 to embrace the space.

If any of this sounds familiar, then you would have seen playwright, Jocelyn Bioh’s brilliant play Jaja’s African Hair Braiding Salon at Arena Stage last September which was as wildly hilarious and hilariously wild as Merry Wives.

If you don’t recall The Bard’s version, check out a synopsis of the plot to refresh your memory, because only some of the names are the same in this all-Black cast. Yes, there is Falstaff, and the two wives who Falstaff calls his “suga mamas” – Mistress Ford (‘Madam Nkechi’ Ford here) and Mistress Page (‘Madam Ekua’ Page here). You’ll remember Dr. Caius, Mistress Quickly (‘Mama’ Quickly here). Plus, Anne is here as well as Shallow, Sir Hugh Evans (‘Pastor’ Evans here) and Fenton. The husbands Mister Ford and Mister Page are named Mister ‘Nduka’ Ford (also playing the character ‘Brook’) and Mister ‘Kwame’ Page. Most of the classic characters are here, give it a minute and you’ll soon figure out who’s who in this remarkable cast in this side-splitting mash-up. At one point a character (who?) yells out “Jesus, take the wheel!” from the Carrie Underwood hit, and the audience dissolves into gales of laughter.

Felicia Curry (Madam Nkechi Ford), Jordan Barbour (Doctor Caius), Nick Rashad Burroughs (Mister Nduka Ford), Sekou Laidlow (Pastor Evans), and JaBen Early (Mister Kwame Page). (Photo/Teresa Castracane Photography)

I swooned over the relationship between the wives who plot to get back at their husbands who’ve accuse them of cheating. “Let’s get to the revenge part!”, they plot in one of the many outrageous scenes inside the laundromat as the wives ham it up, falling all over each other in conspiratorial glee. Sisterhood at its best!

Jacob-Ming Trent, as the significantly rotund Falstaff, tickles with his self-deprecating asides, “I’m just like an old, fat Dumbledore,” he quips as he gets caught up in the wives’ shenanigans. The audience collapsed in hysterics.

Jacob Ming-Trent (Falstaff) and Kelli Blackwell (Mama Quickly). (Photo/Teresa Castracane Photography)

Ivania Stack’s costumes reflect traditional African style side-by-side with 1970’s super fly street and leisure wear. I lost count of the numerous costume changes. Massive kudos to Taylor Reynolds’ direction, Ashleigh King’s choreography, Stack’s costumes and one of the best casts and cleverest shows so far this season.

Fair warning: Ghanian and Rastafarian accents sometimes befuddle as the familiar Early modern English dialogue is interwoven with modern urban street slang. Here hip-hop culture jibes with drumming, ancient African spirits and tribal dancing combine with hip-bumps and pop-locking.

Highly recommended!!! Absolutely fabulous!

The cast of Merry Wives. (Photo/Teresa Castracane Photography)

With Bru Aju as Slender/Pistol; Jordan Barbour as Doctor Caius; Kelli Blackwell as Mama Quickly; Nick Rashad Burroughs as Mister Nduka Ford; Rebecca Celeste as Ensemble/Nafi; the divine Felicia Curry as Madam Nkechi Ford; the wondrous Oneika Phillips as Madam Ekua Page; JaBen Early as Mister Kwame Page; Latoya Edwards as Fenton/Simple; Sekou Laidlow as Pastor Evans; Peyton Rowe as Anne Page; Craig Wallace as Shallow; Ensemble member Shaka Zu.

Lighting Design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew; Sound Design and Composition by Mikaal Sulaiman; Wig & Hair Design by Nikiya Mathis; Dialect & Voice Coach Dawn-Elin Fraser; Dramaturg Drew Lichtenberg.

Through October 5th at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall, 610 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.547.1122 or visit www.ShakespeareTheatre.org