Shakespeareís ìThe Comedy of Errors” has finally arrived in Wooster, debuting Thursday, Oct. 22 in† Freedlander Theater. The campus producton is a winner ó a witty blend of a classic Shakespearean comedy and some decidedly modern theatrical additions.
The story focuses on one of Shakespeareís favorite comedic plotlines ó a case of mistaken identity. A captured Syracusean, Aegon opens the production by telling the Duke of Ephesus, Solinus, of his tale of family woe. His sons, a set of identical twins both named Antipholus, were separated at birth in the midst of a terrible shipwreck. Antipholus of Syracuse, raised by his father Aegon, has now arrived in Ephesus, with his clumsy servant Dromio in tow. Unbeknownst to him, his long-lost twin, Antipholus of Ephesus, resides in Ephesus as well, with a similarly awkward servant also named (you guessed it) Dromio. Hilarity ensues as the townspeople and the respective spouses of the two sets of twins begin to mistake the men for each other.
The production, directed by Visiting Assistant Prof. Season Ellison, incorporates the scriptís calls for both verbal and physical comedy with flair. Thanks to some surrealistic additions, like a swirling light effect that shines on the stage each time a character has a private reflection, or† hand puppets used to much comedic affect by Laura Vandiver í10 as Dromio of Syracuse, the play never feels like another stale adaptation of the Bardís comedy. The intricate set, which depicts the small Italian town of Ephesus, similarly projects the surreal mood of the play, with its inclusion of wildly shaped windows and a larger-than-life, seemingly winking sun. The stage in this show is just as much a character as the rest of the cast.
Of course, all the effects in the world could not make up for a dull cast. Luckily, this is where Comedy truly shines. The two sets of twins play off each other with ease and a true knack for both slapstick and verbal barbs. As Dromio of Syracuse, Malcolm Campbell-Taylor í13, is a master of physical comedy ó a simple, disgusted curl of his lip is enough to incite riotous laughter. Ryan Shafranek í13, his partner-in-comedy as Antipholus of Syracuse, moves smoothly from his role as a teasing master to the lovestruck admirer of Luciana (Kate Donnelly í13). Jasmine Verreen í13, smoothly becomes the gender-bending role of Antipholus of Ephesus, embodying the rage of a particularly macho man when Antipholus is locked out of his home during Act I. And Vandiver, as Dromio of Ephesus, brings a particular ounce of cartoonish fun to the proceedings as she trots about the stage on her tip-toes like a chastised child.
The supporting cast ratchets up the absurdist anty as amusing misunderstandings continue to ensue, with particular stand-out performances given from Alex Gustafson í13 as Adriana, the rash wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, and Tim Gilliss í10 as Aegon, the grief-stricken father of the Antipholus twins. This production also marks the Wooster stage premiere of nine first-year students.
ìThe Comedy of Errors” delivers on both counts ó there is enough comedy and ìerrors” of mistaken identity to thoroughly entertain the audience. With its surreal effects and a set of winning actors, the production promises a good time worthy of the Bard.