According to theatrical legend, Shakespeare wrote this play at the request of Queen Elizabeth I who wanted to see "the Fat Knight in Love." The "Fat Knight" is of course, Sir John Falstaff, who has decided that the best way to make money is to seduce not one, but two, respectible housewives. Romance and farce bloom as a big-city scam artist tries to con a small country town. The production features Dirk van Allen as Falstaff and includes ASF favorites Paul Norton, David Stahl, Babs George, and Ben Wolfe.

It would be so easy for all this big comedy to go awry. One mistimed gag, one slightly overwrought reaction, one momentary lag in pace, and all the humor could collapse like a house of cards. But as in those TV and film comedies of the Fifties and Sixties, the work of experienced actors keeps this fragile structure standing. Their firm grasp of character, their crisp sense of timing, their connection with the audience turn this cleverly imagined frolic into a sizable pleasure.            - Robert Faires, Austin Chronicle