It is not known when Shakespeare truly finished writing the Merry Wives of Windsor – he never actually published any of his works (the first printed collection of his writings appeared published without his blessing by two fellow fellow thespians a full seven years after his death). Most give the date range between the years 1597 and 1599. Better known is when he took it to stage, most likely at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who commissioned the play.

On this day, April 23, in 1597, Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor was performed for the first time, for Queen Elizabeth I. According to 18th-century documents, she so enjoyed the character of Falstaff in Henry IV Part I and Henry IV Part II that she asked Shakespeare to create another play with FaIstaff.

Although Shakespeare’s language would be hard to understand today, his brand of humor in Merry Wives was timeless. Shakespeare used everyday working-class folk rather the royalty, and derived laughs from the mix-ups and misunderstandings, as well as puns and allusions — all elements present in sitcoms and comedy films of today.