Body and Bawdy Humor in Merry Wives: The Big Impact of “Small” Roles

**This is a fun and raucous interview so choose your volume accordingly! For this episode we are going to talk size - no, not that kind of size - though there will be some talk of “eggplant emojis” in this episode. I mean the size of the role versus the impact of the part. Join us as we talk with Jimmy Pike, Denton Meehan, and Lucas Schrantz who are well-versed in playing many parts (sometimes within one play or even a single scene!). These actors (and their characters) will literally muscle their way into your hearts with their sword flourishes and straining biceps. We will talk about conveying different persons through physicality and voice, audience engagement (the good and the bad),  advice to those of you who are pursuant of something against parental (or random stranger’s) advice, and why Merry Wives is a perfect introduction to Shakespeare’s works. It’s mostly prose, people! He left the verse at home. So join us to talk about Merry Wives and come see it at Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park in the Paseo. It opens June 5th and closes June 15th so bring some chairs, blankets, and a picnic worthy of a knight. Also, at the end of the episode, we will tell you about some opportunities to see Merry Wives for FREE. 

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Merry Wives of Windsor — Oklahoma Shakespeare

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Thank you for listening!

Host/Shakespearean Shrew: Dr. Karen Feiner

Co-Creator/Brew Shrew: Michelle Coffman

Cover Art Creator/Artistic Shrew: Katie Kimberling ⁠⁠⁠www.halfmaverick.com⁠⁠⁠

Jimmy Pike has been working with Oklahoma Shakespeare since 2005. He’s been seen on the OSP stage as Slender in Merry Wives of Windsor, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux in Cyrano, Snug and Snout in Midsummer Nights Dream, Friar Francis in Much Ado About Nothing, and many more. He currently serves on the Board of Directors. Jimmy is a father to Gigi and Sam

Lucas Schrantz (Slender, Host, Servant) is a mama’s boy who has been doing theatre since the wee age of ten. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2022 and has been acting around the state since. This will be the third time he is performing at Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park. Recent roles include Plankton in Pollard Theatre’s SpongeBob Squarepants the Musical and Lysander in Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park’s Midsummer Nights Dream. He would like to thank his parents, all five of his siblings, and partner for supporting him.

Denton Meehan is a recent graduate from Oklahoma City University, from Kansas City, MO. This is his second show at OK Shakes. Recent credits include A Midsummer Nights Dream, Life Sucks, and Legacy of Light. Special thanks to friends and family.