Matt Pfeiffer is the “Master of Mirth.”

No more so is this true than in director Pfeiffer’s version of William Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives Of Windsor,” through July 7, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.

The opening night June 28 performance was seen for this review.

Pfeiffer sets the stage for the rollicking comedy in an updated Garter Inn, as if taken over by Live Nation. The barnlike structure is festooned with posters, beer advertisements and two moose heads on the walls. Think Penn’s Peak, Jim Thorpe, or House of Blues Las Vegas.

Scenic designer for the PSF show is Paige Hathaway. Lighting Designer is Alyssandra Docherty.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” opens with an Elvis Presley tribute band performing on the stage riser. Composer-Music Director for the PSF show is Alex Bechtel. Grace Aumiller is Sound Designer.

At the song’s conclusion, the lead singer, in full-Elvis regalia (cape and the all-white full-Cleveland look) steps off the riser and doffs his black pompadour wig with the dour flourish of a tricorne hat. Pei Lee is Costume Designer for the PSF show.

Wigged out underneath the wig is none other than Sir John Falstaff (Scott Greer). Who knew Queen Elizabeth I was an Elvis fan? Or at least an Elvis impersonator fan?

This Falstaff, to quote the Elvis hit, “Burning Love,” is, or thinks he is, “A hunk, a hunk of burning love.” As played by Greer, there’s a lot of hubris in the “hunk of.” Greer makes sure the audience knows that he realizes he’s too clever by half. This is, after all, the latter-days Elvis (circa 1977), not the young Elvis of his breakthrough “That’s All Right” (1954) or even the Elvis of the “68 Comeback Special” telecast.

Pfeiffer cuts to the merry chase. Falstaff quickly becomes “a hunk, a hunk of” burning humor. The title may be “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” but It’s Falstaff, as portrayed by Greer, who steels (and steals) the show. Greer’s pauses, asides and body language are an acting workshop in itself.

The play’s humor, Pfeiffer’s direction and the actors’ execution burn to a crisp the middle-class mores of the play’s suburban scene then (in the original Shakespeare era, roughly 1597-1602, setting) and now (in Pfeiffer’s retro 1970s’ retelling).

The wives serve as foils for what is, in plot device terms, the MacGuffin that sets the “Merry”-ment in motion. In this case, it’s a letter, or two nearly identical letters, that Falstaff sends to Mrs. Ford (Taysha Marie Canales, wonderfully coy) and Mrs. Page (Karen Peakes, endearingly crisp). Why Falstaff thought his purloined letters ploy was a good, or even practical, idea, is beyond mere mortals’ comprehension. Maybe he was hedging his bet. The Falstaffian fallout is that the “Wives” are not so much “Merry” as mad for revenge. They give Falstaff’s ego a good trimming.

During the show, Falstaff takes to the concert stage riser several times, riffing Elvis-style, with one song suspiciously sounding like a portion of the melody to “Suspicious Minds” (1968, Elvis last No. 1 chart-topper).

The PSF production is like that. It’s Pfeiffer-esque: a cornucopia, or corny-copious, of pop culture references. A pun on The Beatles’ song, “Eleanor Rigby,” referencing the play’s character John Rugby (Abby Jeanne), is a Pfeifferism par excellence.

The cast makes merry in “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” taking full advantage of Peiffer’s’ loosey-goosey approach.

The cast of pros have fun with the prose, the poses and the possibilities.

Akeem Davis (Mr. Ford) takes it to the audience, ad-libbing, ribbing and having a great time with the material in an energetic, engaging and entertaining performance.

Jim Helsinger (Justice Shallow) seems to be morphing Deputy Dawg (Terrytoons TV series cartoon character, 1960-1964) as a dimwitted stumblebum to hilarious effect.

Anthony Lawton (Parson Hugh) creates an indelible impression with a put-upon parsimonious unctuousness that is funny beyond belief.

Suzanne O’Donnell (Mistress Quickly) conveys an amusing charm that is at once adorable and extremely funny.

Ian Merrill Peakes (Dr. Caius) charts a course for parts unknown with a faux French accent that translates to gut-busting laughter.

Memorable in the subplot of “The Merry Wives of Windsor” as the young couple who defy conventions of planned marriages to embrace their own true love are CaSandra Kay (Anne Page) and Christian Tuffy (Fenton).

The entire cast is up to the task of the production’s fast-paced, breakneck comedy, including Tyler Borneo (Simple), Sean Close (Slender), Dan Hodge (Pistol), Eli Lynn (Nym), J. Paul Nicholas (Mr. Page), Devon Romero (Bardolph) and Isaiah Caleb Stanley (Host of the Garter).

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” is a merry bit of whimsy for fans of Shakespeare, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and its talented cast and production artists.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor,” 7:30 p.m. July 3, 5; 6:30 p.m. July 2; 2, 7:30 p.m. July 6; 2 p.m. July 7, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-9455, https://pashakespeare.org/