The easy complaint lobbied at William Shakespeare's timeless plays are that they are difficult for a modern audience to appreciate. It's true that the majority of productions present stories with the language as written by The Bard, and there have been a few centuries since then. With that said, Shakespeare by the Sea has found the perfect argument against this by tackling one of his most accessible, entertaining works. The Comedy of Errors is only confusing in the plot, but that's the point. It's not supposed to make total sense as characters with similar names and wardrobe get mixed up in different situations. Those wishing to keep it straight may have difficulty, but that's also because of how funny the show winds up being thanks to a lively cast that brings personality to the simple staging of the show. Shakespeare set out to entertain his audience, and this production continues that tradition with excellent results.
Shakespeare by the Sea is a theater company best known for traveling around Southern California parks every summer to perform two Shakespeare plays: one serious, one comedy. This year finds them putting on The Comedy of Errors as well as Henry V for free between June and August. Not only do the actors do incredible work by bringing the show to life, but they are also the stagehands responsible for assembling and deconstructing the stage for every performance. There's so much love that goes into making every show happen that it has become a delight to see what the cast puts together every year.
In the case of The Comedy of Errors, the show feels like witnessing actors sprint through some of The Bard's wittiest language. There are countless puns alongside fart jokes and sexual innuendos that get tossed off, often as the actors walk up and down the wooden stage. It's the audiences' job to keep up with it, which isn't nearly as much of a challenge as one would think. In spite of ye olde English popping up, the jokes translate perfectly with the slapstick in highbrow ways. Even the fat jokes are given a sense of intellect as an obese woman is described as having a "global" figure. There's so much fun within the chemistry of the characters, even if the pacing takes a few minutes to fully appreciate.
The heart of the story is its mistaken identity, and it's true of two sets of twins named Antipholus of Ephesus (Jonathan Fisher) and Syracuse (Alex Elliott-Funk), and Dromio of Ephesus (Melissa Green) and Syracuse (Brendan Kane). Both sets of twins wear matching outfits, only adding to the chaos that forms in the second act. The first act does an excellent job of establishing the world amid the humor and constant running around onstage. What starts as seeming like an inconsequential comedy slowly seeps into its madness and finds simple acts like arrests and visiting docks into moments of absurdity. None of it feels mishandled, making anything that happens all the more rewarding.
The noteworthy standout among the cast is the Dromio twins, whose origin story involves being separated by a shipwreck. Both have a flamboyance to them that is delightful though different enough to make their style of humor work. Dromio of Syracuse is especially entertaining, managing to flail his arms, crack his voice, and feel uncomfortable at the thought of marrying a woman he doesn't like. Egos fly high in this story, and few go as high as his. There's so much to enjoy as the Dromios barely avoid finding each other throughout the scenes, making one wonder what will happen when they do. The same could be said for the Antipholus twins, though both are more straight-man material.
It's at times a miracle that for a story that feels like it's in constant motion to never lose steam. While those not used to Shakespeare may spend the first few minutes adjusting to the style, there's a charm that forms once they do. For as much as it's from another period, it reflects how humor and narrative can transcend centuries and still entertain, so long as there's a cast willing to bring it to life. The Comedy of Errors is among the more accessible shows The Bard created, and it's easy to see why. The plot is straightforward, even as it zigs and zags uncontrollably from scene to scene. It's just an excuse for mistaken identity to get the uproarious treatment it deserves. Thanks to Shakespeare by the Sea for putting it on with another successful year of shows.
If you wish to check out their shows next year (which I encourage), please feel free to visit their website and learn more about the summer series: https://www.shakespearebythesea.org/wp/
The heart of the story is its mistaken identity, and it's true of two sets of twins named Antipholus of Ephesus (Jonathan Fisher) and Syracuse (Alex Elliott-Funk), and Dromio of Ephesus (Melissa Green) and Syracuse (Brendan Kane). Both sets of twins wear matching outfits, only adding to the chaos that forms in the second act. The first act does an excellent job of establishing the world amid the humor and constant running around onstage. What starts as seeming like an inconsequential comedy slowly seeps into its madness and finds simple acts like arrests and visiting docks into moments of absurdity. None of it feels mishandled, making anything that happens all the more rewarding.
The noteworthy standout among the cast is the Dromio twins, whose origin story involves being separated by a shipwreck. Both have a flamboyance to them that is delightful though different enough to make their style of humor work. Dromio of Syracuse is especially entertaining, managing to flail his arms, crack his voice, and feel uncomfortable at the thought of marrying a woman he doesn't like. Egos fly high in this story, and few go as high as his. There's so much to enjoy as the Dromios barely avoid finding each other throughout the scenes, making one wonder what will happen when they do. The same could be said for the Antipholus twins, though both are more straight-man material.
It's at times a miracle that for a story that feels like it's in constant motion to never lose steam. While those not used to Shakespeare may spend the first few minutes adjusting to the style, there's a charm that forms once they do. For as much as it's from another period, it reflects how humor and narrative can transcend centuries and still entertain, so long as there's a cast willing to bring it to life. The Comedy of Errors is among the more accessible shows The Bard created, and it's easy to see why. The plot is straightforward, even as it zigs and zags uncontrollably from scene to scene. It's just an excuse for mistaken identity to get the uproarious treatment it deserves. Thanks to Shakespeare by the Sea for putting it on with another successful year of shows.
If you wish to check out their shows next year (which I encourage), please feel free to visit their website and learn more about the summer series: https://www.shakespearebythesea.org/wp/
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