Shakespeare may not have coined the term “soap opera,” but he brings us a ridiculously over-the-top play whose premise would rival any daytime television programming with “The Comedy of Errors.”
In Gamut Theatre’s 31st season of bringing Shakespeare to Harrisburg’s Reservoir Park, a.k.a. “Shakespeare under the Stars,” the talented cast, directed by Kelli Kauterman, springs this weird tale off its parchment – a comedy full of misunderstandings and mistaken identity, slapstick and wordplay, told in the traditional way, with circus-y twists here and there.
The high energy of the show hits you before the show even begins, with its carousel music (Brianna Dow) and cheerfully colorful scene setting (Michael Bush). Then the actors appear in costumes (Jen Kilander, Victoria Wojciechowski) reminiscent of the Mad Hatter’s tea party, or a toddler dressing herself for the first time. Although neon and clashing, the costumes serve a purpose beyond stimulating your retinae like that first morning cup of coffee: they give you clues to help you identify the characters. Every why hath a wherefore.
Even without a plot that purposefully confounds itself, you may be worried about following a Shakespearean performance. After all, the language is over 400 years old, most of us are not conversant in iambic pentameter, and British humour doesn’t always translate across the pond. You might not digest every word, but the actors use enough gestures, facial expressions, and stage movement to help you catch on. Also, in the program is a synopsis of the play you can read before the play starts. Then at the play’s beginning, Gamut’s Founding Artistic Director, Clark Nicholson (playing Egeon, the father), preambles the play with a narrative of who’s who, making that synopsis you just read come alive through the magic of puppeteering. To further help you mark your dance card, the characters appear in the program in about the same order they appear onstage, and there’s only light dual role-playing.
The heart of the mistaken identity plot in “The Comedy of Errors” centers on a different dual role-playing of sorts – twins. And the Bard twists the knife further by inserting two sets of identical twins, both with the same names, and splitting them up between two warring towns. (Ephesus hates Syracuse the way Springfield hates Shelbyville.) They were separated courtesy of a shipwreck, they don’t know where their other halves are, and they develop master/servant relationships with their mismatched sets. The audience is in on the hijinks when, scene after scene, the townspeople mistake one twin for another.
The cast of “The Comedy of Errors” (photo: Gina Napoli)
Whoever casted this play chose well, using near doppelgangers with similar faces and body types: Dromio of Syracuse (Dom Hernandez) and Dromio of Ephesus (Joel Colvin); Antipholus of Syracuse (Jason Samarin) and Antipholus of Ephesus (Diego Sandino). Hernandez succeeds onstage as a hilarious bumbler, with descriptions of his hideous wife that made me laugh out loud several times. Although also a slave, Colvin distinguishes himself from his twin by giving his character a mite more swagger. Samarin and Sandino show how similar their characters are in temperament, giving impassioned line deliveries with violent tendencies.
As Adriana, (Maggie Haynes), wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, Haynes plays an inflamed and jealous woman, wildly gesticulating about the stage. Most of her scenes were with her sister Luciana (Taylor Hargraves), a staunch advocate for women’s rights, well ahead of her time and place in history. Although my seat was far away from their combined alpha girl energy, I could feel it radiating as Haynes and Hargraves played off each other, often facing the audience, inviting us into their dynamic.
Shakespeare uses many smaller roles to craft the numerous misunderstandings that cobble the play’s plot together. Although Bill didn’t give these roles as much stage time, the actors were just as deft in interpreting the scenes, and adding their own flairs. Kudos to actors Daniel Hutchins, Chris Ondeck, Amelia Chick, Joe Regan, Liz Curtis, and Samantha McCue for adding their comedic talents to bring situational humor and complexity to this silly farce.
In case you were still worried that the flowery language may elude you, at the end of the play, all misunderstandings are sorted and explained in detail from every angle, tied with a nice bit of rope that probably doubled as a weapon somewhere during a silly fight scene.
And in this mist at all adventures go. Wear your best disguise, and join Gamut Theatre-goers for this fun satire. Because many thoroughfares within Reservoir Park are blocked, be sure to leave yourself enough time to find parking and walk to the Levitt Pavilion bandshell. With the crazy Pennsylvania weather, you may ask yourself, “Am I on earth, in heaven, or in hell?” You may be watching the sunset behind the bandshell, or you may find yourself in the midst of a tempest. Thou knowest not, so be prepared with sunscreen, a sweatshirt, insect repellant, rain gear, blankets, your own chairs, and probably some igloo bricks. Provided no twin steals from you, you can purchase from the food truck, or you may donate your gold in the designated baskets.
“The Comedy of Errors” runs through June 15, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., weather pending. Because it’s a free event, accessible to all, no tickets are required. More information is available at https://www.gamuttheatre.org/fsip.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
