THE COMEDY OF ERRORS run dates: 6/13/2008 - 7/13/2008 Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival at Iowa City High School, Iowa City, Iowa ____________________________________________________________________________
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is one of the most popular of Shakespeare’s comedies, and its tale of two sets of identically-dressed identical twins – with the same names, no less – is the most basic of mistaken-identity farce.
The story’s very simplicity is part of its appeal, however.
By several convenient backstory twists, the four guys all end up in the same city at the same time, with neither half-set of twins knowing about the existence of the other, and the confusion begins almost immediately. We know they’ll all eventually end up reunited with their long-lost brothers – but the tangle they all get into first is definitely a load of surprises, offering rich material for actors who really want to put on a show.
In the case of the Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival (which had its share of unhappy surprises this year, including a major flood that forced the festival to relocate to a local high school and the complete destruction of their scene shop), this material gets put to first-class use.
Director Kevin Harris has put together an oversized, presentational version of this comic tale, and the result is hearty laughter throughout scene after scenes.
The actors playing each Antipholus (Dennis Fox and Tim Budd) bring a wealth of experience and talent to their portrayals, and each does most excellent work. Budd’s overwrought tantrum in the second act is pricelessly done, and Fox’s interpretation of his character’s declarations of love (for the sister of the other Antipholus’ wife) is a wonderfully romantic set of line readings, though he also finds the humor in his character’s tumble into love at first sight.
Martin Andrews and Aaron Graham play Dromio and Dromio, and their physicality, mannerisms and vocal inflections are so much alike even we aren’t always sure right away which one is which. Generally, an audience will know who is supposed to be seen as identical (willfully disbelieving any differences), but these two really manage to be very, very close to identical, and the result lends a touch of authentic confusion to the farcical mishaps found in these frequent mistaken identities. Additionally, Andrews and Graham are gifted comedians who make the most of – I almost wrote "this role" – these roles.
Harris has also cast the fantastic Leigh Williams as Adriana, the overwrought wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, and her vocal histrionics are laugh-aloud hilarious. Cristina Panfilio makes a sweetly earnest Luciana (Adriana’s sister), too, and these two scene-stealers do absolutely terrific work.
The ensemble surrounding these performers is also superb – playing a group of very swishy merchants, a handsome traveler trying to collect money owed to him, and all kinds of other crazy and "straight" roles.
The work of scenic and lighting designer Paul Sannerud also made the unexpected transition indoors, where his light plots and great-looking, functional set are exactly what the show needs to make it look as terrific as it is.
By the time you read this review, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS will have closed, but I hope many of you got the chance – despite floods, closed highways and more – to see it anyway. If you want to see more of the same next year (and, we hope, back on the fantastic festival stage), contact Riverside Theatre about ways you can help RTSF survive this difficult year.
