Shakespeare Theatre Company: Comedy of Errors

 Now, this is how Shakespeare ought to be done!  At least ways, the comedies.  This production was alive, vibrant, full of physical comedy on both the micro and macro scales.  As an audience member, you were immediately drawn in once the opening scene with Egeon's soliloquy set the stage.  In fact, the only complaint I have is in the opening scene, mercifully short.  Eric Hissom, an actor with no end of Shakespeare credentials--and one I have always looked forward to seeing--took a curious turn with Duke Solinus.  He played him so flat, so monotone, as to make me wonder if he was ill or confused.   To his credit, Timothy D. Stickney who played Egeon seemed to up the passion meter pulling the scene out of the drink, as it were.  

Later, Hissom returned as a pharmaceutical assisted Dr. Pinch with great verve.  These folks aside, the eal stars of the show begin with David Flynn and Jacob Brandt as the Dromio twins.  Even more amazing when I realized that Brandt was the understudy!  Their intense, physical comedy was a welcome presence on the stage, and while they look sort of alike, I got a kick out of a comment the man sitting next to me made to his wife during intermission: "It got so I couldn't tell who was who!"  Playing beside them were their liege's the Antipholus twins play with equal passion by Christian Thompson and Ralph Adriel Johnson.  Handsome, dexterous, exuding both charm and arrogance, their performances were equally as compelling.  Finally, in the realm of stand outs, kudos to Shayvawn Webster in the Role of Antipholus of Syracuse's wife, Adriana. Against a phalanx of male cast members spinning and gesticulating, she held her own and times to great comic effect.  Truth be told, there wasn't a weak link save the aforementioned opening scene in the whole play.  It ended with a celebratory dance number involving the entire cast to the delight of everyone in the audience.

The set was gorgeous and spilled out into the audience in ways that allowed for character interactions.  Shout out to Ceci Calf.  The costumes, by Alejo Vietti, were likewise beautiful, most in a palate of yellows.  As someone with Synesthesia, "Comedy" is a yellow word, so it may have resonated even more deeply for me.  Shakespeare Theatre Company is so good at doing Shakespeare most of the time, it's really a pity that they don't do more of it.  This is the only one of Shakespeare's plays on this 24-25 season docket, and there are seven productions in total.

Some of the good folks of Syracuse [L-R]: Amanda Naughton, Camilo Linares, Jacob Brandt (who understudied as Dromio of Ephesus), Pearl Rhein (with violin), Kimberly Dodson, Ro Boddie, and Eric Hissom

Adriana (Shayvawn Webster) and Dromio of Syracuse (David Flynn)

Adriana with her sister Luciana (Cloteal L. Horne)

Dromio of Ephesus with Antipholus of Syracuse (Christian Thompson)

Dromio of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus engaged in some hilarious macro high-jinks while others look on incredulously

[L-R] Pinch (Eric Hissom), Adiana, Luciana, and Thaisa (Kimberly Dodson); in front Antipholus of Syracuse (Ralph Adriel Johnson)

Big dance finale