The Corn Hall welcomes a sweet creature of bombast
Posted on 13th June 2025
Giles Shenton was surely born to play Falstaff even if, as he begrudgingly admitted, the RSC wasn’t interested. Just one of countless asides that may or may not be ad-libbed in Simon Downing’s tribute to one of Shakespeare’s finest comic creations. If you ever wondered what happened to Sir John after Hal rejected him, then wonder no more. He may be down on his luck, but he’s as unrepentant as ever, living in East Cheap with Mistress Quickly, who he promises to marry. Quickly is more than a match for Falstaff, weary of his flatulent excesses yet still sweetly, if inexplicably, in love with him. Georgie Taylor brings a grounded reality to Falstaff’s other half-to-be, investing the character with a touching humanity sorely lacking in Sir John. The two of them verbally joust in a two hander that both respectfully honours Shakespeare’s creation, yet isn’t afraid to poke fun at the theatrical conventions of the day.
Loosely framed around the conceit that Falstaff in being pursued by off stage debtors the play is really an excuse to explore the comic possibilities of a character brought back to life from the Elizabethan era. So while the play worked well as a standalone piece of theatre, there’s no denying that greater riches were buried in the text for anyone more familiar with Falstaff’s fall from grace in the two parts of Henry IV. The underlying tragedy of a man left behind as Hal put away childish things bubbles away throughout, so that – notwithstanding the nods given to the broader canon – this was ultimately a play about resilience in the face of rejection.
There was an overarching sense that great care and attention to detail was taken throughout the play. As we’ve come to expect from a GSP production, the stage was handsomely dressed, while sound design was economic yet effective. Both actors seemed entirely confident in their roles. Despite the comedic possibilities of Taylor causing havoc with a slapstick or Shenton pulling down his drawers, it was during their rare intimate moments that the authenticity of the characters’ relationship shown through.