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Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C. The Comedy of Errors Also see Susan's review of The Comeuppance
Shakespeare borrowed the convoluted plot from the Roman playwright Plautus, and similarly Godwin has made his own adaptations in the staging. The story takes place in the city of Ephesus, located in modern Turkey, which the program describes as "The port of a Mediterranean city, before the invention of the cellphone." Ceci Calf's scenic design incorporates a surprising number of locations including a seaside fish market, while costume designer Alejo Vietti goes heavy on 1990s outfits in eye-burning yellow and clashing prints. Here's the setup: Some 20 years earlier, Egeon (Timothy D. Stickney) and his wife, natives of Syracuse, were traveling with two sets of newborn identical twins (the second set born to a poor woman and adopted as servants and companions to Egeon's boys). A shipwreck separated the parents and the twins, and now Egeon has arrived in Ephesus in his ongoing quest to make his family whole at last. Conveniently, each set of twins shares a name–Antipholus for Egeon's sons, Dromio for the adopted children–and now all four of them are in the same city. Mistaken identity as the main plot driver can become tiresome, but not with Godwin's propulsive staging and a strong cast of farceurs. Brightman and Fynn are naturals (both have played the physically demanding lead role in the musical School of Rock, Brightman on Broadway and Fynn in London), while the Antipholi, Ralph Adriel Johnson and Christian Thompson, start out serious but soon get sucked into the insanity surrounding them. The whole thing races along with one zany bit following another. The merry villagers of Ephesus gather and dance to an onstage accordionist (why not?) and Godwin raises slapstick to an astonishing level, including some amusing business with a front-door intercom. Still, the production does allow moments when the audience can breathe. Shayvawn Webster demonstrates real pathos as Adriana, the neglected wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, alongside Cloteal L. Horne as her no-nonsense sister Luciana. Eric Hissom steals his scene as a supposed exorcist and is resolute as the duke of Ephesus. Charles G. LaPointe deserves special mention for his clever wigs and hair designs. The Comedy of Errors runs through October 20, 2024, at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Klein Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW, Washington DC. For tickets and information, please call 202-547-1122 or 877-487-8849 or visit www.shakespearetheatre.org. By William Shakespeare Cast: |
