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The Comedy of Errors
By William Shakespeare
Shepperton Studios Scenes Written by Ron West
Directed by Barbara Gaines
At Chicago Shakespeare’s Courtyard Theater
Navy Pier
Chicago, IL
Call 312-595-5600, tickets $54 - $70
Tuesdays at 7:30 pm
Wednesdays at 1 & 7:30 pm
Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays at 3 & 8 pm
Sundays at 3 & 7 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 45 minutes with intermission
Through June 29, 2008
Hilarious comedy-within-a comedy enhances Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors
Amazingly, Barbara Gaines has never directed The Comedy of Errors at Chicago Shakespeare Theater until now. Working with the talented Second City veteran Ron West, Gaines has set The Bard’s early comedy in 1940 London during Blitz in the dark days of World War II. We meet an eccentric group of stage and film actors about to make a film of The Comedy of Errors. This play-within-a-play works extremely well to flush out characters and produce higher levels of comedy. The cast of characters include a mélange glamorous movie stars, obnoxious stage actors, an American pop singer as well as determined film director. We hear 40’s music and experience the terror of bombs falling in this ambitious production.
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Ron West has added much humor as he weaves his cast from 1940’s artistic talents into credible Shakespearian players. This guy can write. I think this play-within-a-play is a terrific idea that adds depth to the production. The Comedy of Errors becomes a duel comedy that rings enough laughter to satisfy every laugh bone we possesses. The West/Gaines collaboration is smart, sophisticated and seamlessly interweaved into one of the funniest and most elaborate productions seen in Chicago in years. The backstage antics abound as personal agendas threaten the film as does the Nazi bombing of London.
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One of the clever devises West & Gaines uses has all the film folks doubling as actors in the staging of The Comedy of Errors. From film director Dudley Marsh playing Dromio of Syracuse (Ross Lehman), we see cameramen, techs and script persons each playing Shakespearian characters. Much humor comes from these transitions. Add an American pop singer, Phillip Sullivan (Sean Allan Krill) doubling as Antipholus of Ephesus with fickle stage actor, Emerson Furbelow (Timothy Edward Kane) playing Antipholus of Syracuse and the layers of comedy emerge from both the script and the characterizations.
The Comedy of Errors, of course, is a tale of two long-lost sets of identical twins separated years earlier in a ship wreck. Antipholus and his servant Dromio land in Ephesus and mayhem ensue. Mistaken identities become complicated since the separated identical twins live here. Comic chaos becomes a rich blend of physical and verbal humor until the joyous ending becomes a warm reconciliation.
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What makes this production work is the fantastic, hard working, energetic and full ranging performances by this fine cast of “A” list Equity actors. Ross Lehman and Kevin Gudahl anchor the show with Kymberly Mellen (Veronica Marsh/Adriana) and Timothy Edward Kane (Emerson Furbelow/Antipholus of Syracuse) offering outstanding comic turns. Sean Allan Krill (Phillip Sullivan/Antipholus) nailed his duel role of an American singer and non-actor who emerges as an effective thespian. Sean Fortunato’s Philpot, Paula Scrofano’s Abbess, Angela Ingersoll’s Luciana, and Roger Mueller’s Duke each contributed to this comedy spectacle.
The cast of 19 left it all out on stage as the sheer energy, spot-on timing and physicality garnered many belly laughs. Ron West and Barbara Gaines enhanced Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors in this pleasing production.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2008
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