Scott Johnston brings wit, charm, and a touch of mischief to the role of Sir John Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor with Bard in the Valley
By day, he’s a trusted lawyer at Clark Woods LLP. By night, he’s a roguish knight stirring up laughs in Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor.
This summer, Scott Johnston returns to his first love — community theatre — with a lead performance as Sir John Falstaff, proving that courtroom skills and stagecraft have more in common than you might think.
A Lawyer’s Journey into Theatre
“I caught the acting bug in Grade 8 Drama,” says Johnston, recalling his first steps into the world of performance at McRoberts Junior Secondary in Richmond.
From there, he went on to perform in a range of high school and community productions, taking on roles such as George Gibbs in Our Town, The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz, and Peter in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
“Acting enables you to walk a mile in another’s shoes,” he says. “It allows you to shift perspectives and see the world with new eyes.”
Over the years, Scott’s theatre credits have included lead roles in Arsenic and Old Lace at the Stanley Theatre and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Waterfront Theatre. He also took on the part of Touchstone in As You Like It across productions by the Arts Club Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, and Carousel Theatre.
Returning to the Stage as Sir John Falstaff
Johnston admits he was hesitant to return to a lead role after more than a decade away from the stage, but portraying Falstaff has brought both fun and challenge.
While Johnston is no stranger to Shakespeare — thanks to his past role as Touchstone — he notes the language always presents a hurdle.
“Most of Sir John Falstaff’s lines are prose, rather than verse, so there’s some flexibility in delivery,” he explains.
When Law and Theatre Overlap
According to Johnston, the skills required for law and theatre aren’t as different as they may seem.
“The skillset is transferable,” he says. “All the world’s a stage.”
But reactions to his dual career have varied.
“At a social gathering, one very senior tax lawyer once asked if I did theatre. I said yes, I have a show at the Stanley Theatre next month. He screamed out, ‘That’s weird!’” Johnston laughs. “A junior associate at the firm quickly responded: ‘Well, Sir, tell me what you really think?’”
Catch Scott in The Merry Wives of Windsor
Scott Johnston is currently appearing in Bard in the Valley’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, where his take on Falstaff is sure to leave audiences smiling. Performances run throughout the summer and are a great way to support local community theatre.
For tickets and more information, visit bardinthevalley.com.