No
playwright has ever been as fond of mistaken identities as Shakespeare, with
all his damsels dressed in drag to fool all and sundry. And in this play he
takes that passion to the ultimate, as two twin brothers and their twin
servants bounce around in the service of one of Will’s most adored comical
romps.
As
always, the OSF troupe handles their business with precision and teeth-rattling
enunciation, making all of the language marvelously accessible.
Even
though the players are encouraged by director Terry Burgler to chew every
visible piece of scenery, along with some of the flora and fauna that surround
them in this gorgeous outdoor setting, the broad characterizations mostly add
to the raucous fun.
Standouts
in the talented cast include Bernard Bygott and Benjamin Fortin as master and
servant, times two. Bygott has the surly sort of good looks that wear well in
his guises of both Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse (also played at times by Ryan C. Zarecki). But his
extreme mugging later on, as he’s wrenched back and forth by multiple misidentifications,
almost upsets the over-acting applecart.
Fortin’s
dual Dromios (and an occasional appearance by his Dromio of Syracuse double Geoff Knox) find all the laughs inherent in this wacky plot, shuddering in
fear since it seems anyone within arm’s length is ready to take a swipe at this
pair of cowering yet conniving servants.
Lara
Knox as Adriana seethes with such fury it’s amazing the nearby trees don’t
burst into flames, and Tess Burgler has some fun as her sis Luciana.
Alfred Anderson, as he has for the past eight
seasons, lends his gorgeous stentorian tones to the proceedings—this time as
the Duke of Ephesus—while Henry C. Bishop adds some extracurricular laughs as
the conjurer Pinch.
Mark
Stoffer as the goldsmith Angelo seems a bit stunned by the histrionics going on
around him and doesn’t furnish the added layer of chuckles that this character
can often provide.
Summer is short, but that’s no reason
not to hie yourself to Akron for this always entertaining Shakepearian treat,
served alfresco and with inordinate relish by the talented OSF team.
The
Comedy of Errors
Through
July 21, produced by the Ohio Shakespeare Festival at Stan Hywet Hall and
Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 330-673-8761.
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