ALEXANDRIA – With the clang of a massive ship’s bell and the cry, “Stowaway!”, Director Simon Godwin’s Comedy of Errors begins. An august gentleman, Egeon (Timothy Stickney), a merchant from Syracuse, has been arrested and is being questioned by Duke Solinus (Eric Hissom), nay, threatened with beheading if he doesn’t pay a hefty fine for trespassing. He explains he nearly lost his life in a tempest at sea. But rules are rules, the Duke explains, and Egeon must find money to satisfy the law. He has his life, for now, but has lost his wife Emilia (Amanda Naughton), twin boys and their twin servants.
In the terror of the storm, they became separated. That’s the setup. Antipholus needs to find his brother, father, wife and mother and come up with the dough (ducats) to spare his father’s life. Bear in mind there are twin sons and their respective twin servants – all operating separately – and unbeknownst to one another, the bizarre fact they had all washed up on the Ephesusian shore.
Sheer madness and near-terminal mistaken identity abound at supersonic speed. If you don’t know the plot going in, you’ll be spinning your wheels to keep up with these wacky doings. Other characters and side plots help ratchet up the action. At times I wondered if I was watching a mashup of Buster Keaton meets Steve Martin meets Lucy and Ethel in all their slapstick glory. Deliciously clever! Switcheroo at its highest and best use.
Hats off to Composer Michael Bruce for the interludes played by a delightful group of musicians – I noted a mandolin, guitar, piano, banjo and accordion who roamed the stage singing an amalgam of musical ditties between the rapid-fire comings and goings of the players. An intercom doorbell scene and the goofy beatings of the servant Dromio had the audience roaring, as did many of the prickly puns and nutty shenanigans.
Magic, spirits and mystifying encounters factor into many of Shakespeare’s plays and this early farce of his is no exception. When crazed conjurer Pinch (Eric Hissom in this dual role) arrives all hell breaks loose in a whirlpool of Vaudevillian confusion and absurd props (forceps!!!) meant to break the spell and find love lost. He does and they do. Deep sigh…
Comic timing is everything and this cast was on fire. If your head is not spinning after this marvelously choreographed mayhem, you need to have it examined.
Highly recommended!!!
With Ralph Adriel Johnson as Antipholus of Ephesus; Christian Thompson as Aintipholus of Syracuse; David Fynn as Dromio of Ephesus; Alex Brightman as Dromio of Syracuse; Shayvawn Webster as Adriana; Cloteal L. Horne as Luciana; Pearl Rhein as Angela; Kimberly Dodson as Thaisa; Paige Rammelkamp as Marina; Camilo Linares as Sergeant/Officer; Ro Boddie as Balthazar; and Jacob Brandt as Roderigo.
Choreography by Nancy Renee Braun; Scenic Design by Ceci Calf; Costume Design by Alejo Vietti; Lighting Design by Stacey Derosier; Sound Design by Christopher Shutt; Fight Choreography by Robb Hunter; Wig & Hair Design by Charles G. Lapointe; Dramaturg Drew Lichtenberg.
Through October 20 at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information call the box office at 202 547-1122 or visit www.ShakespeareTheatre.org.
