“The Comedy of Errors”

[rating=5] There is an old saying that goes “Always leave them wanting more”! Tonight, as I watched the current production of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the last under the Artistic Direction of the lady who started it all some 37 years ago, Barbara Gaines, I thought about the many unique productions that have altered the way people think about the work of  “The Bard”. There are many people who don’t like the language of his works! There ar many who don’t always “get it” and while they could enjoy it, they will not open their minds to the possibility. Gaines and her staff have changed the ideas and notions about these plays over the years. Even, Jane, my wife, who has never enjoyed these works, attends the comedies at least.

For her finale as Artistic Director she has chosen one of the funniest of his works, “The Comedy of Errors”, a story about two sets of twins, one set the nobles and the other their servants. They are separated during a voyage , one of each, and many years later, they find themselves in the same city and question how people seem to know them considering they have never been there before. That is pretty much the actual story in the original form and is quite funny. Over the years, there have been several adaptations, but none like this one!

The adapted story has us in the 1940’s during World War Two, in London, in fact during the height of the London Blitz. They are making a new version of Shakespeare’s work with the intent to bring some humor back to the United States in order to take their minds off the war that is in progress. The “framework” that brings us the film portions of the play is written by Comedian Ron West, a wild and crazy man- and it shows!

Gaines has put together an all-star cast making this a production that should be on you “MUST SEE ” list, even if you despise Shakespeare’s plays. I guarantee that if you just go in to the theater at Navy Pier, and let it all take place for you, you will have a ball and find that despite his different language ( although still English) this is a blast.

One must understand that Miss Gaines is an authority on the works of The Bard and her cast of players is composed of people like Ross Lehman ( a perfect Dudley Marsh, the movie director and in the film Dromio of Syracuse/one of the servant twins). His counterpart is Kevin Gudahl ( as Lord Brian Halifax, a great actor/and also as Dromio of Ephesus- the other twin). These two, who have been doing Shakespeare for decades and major musicals and comedies as well are terrific and work off each other to perfection. It is hard to tell if they are following the direction or ad-libbing. That is how powerful Gaine’s direction is- very natural.

Also in the cast, as Marsh’s wife and Adriana in the film is Susan Moniz, who many of us have watched mature on our stages ( I think my first play with her in a lead role was Marriott’s “West Side Story”. A solid performance showing off her comic timing. CST regulars William Dick, Greg Vinkler ( one of his characters is the father of the twins), Ora Jones is a delight as the enchanting Abbess among other roles, Bill Larkin,  Adia Bell, the adorable Lillian Castillo, Steve McDonagh, Melanie Brezill ( who has a scene dealing with an actor’s bad breath that will have you rolling in your seat),Breon Arzell , Maya Vinice Prentiss, Bruce A.Young, Russell Mernagh and the other set of twins, Robert Petkoff as Emerson playing Antipholus of Syracuse and Dan Chameroy as Antiphoious of Syracuse. The brothers were also wonderful characters.

This is an ensemble  piece that I am pretty sure will get Jeff recommended and will probably win some of the awards for this season. West’s added script material and the execution by this cast truly makes this a once in a lifetime theatrical experience. James Noone’s set is terrific and never do we lose sight of the action which can happen in a Thrust Theater. Mieka Van Der Ploeg’s costumes are divine and as always Linday Jones music composition and sound are flawless as are the lights by Ken Posner. The hair and makeup design by Richard Jarvie is top notch and Verse coach Larry Yando is the best when it comes to Shakespeare.

During the intermission, several people were discussing whether or not this was a new adaptation. It is! I do believe that Gaines did a production earlier in her career, perhaps 14 or 15 years ago and while I searched back in my files, I am unsure if some of these cast members were part of that production. Would love to know if they were, and what roles they played back then. This is probably the best play-within-a- play ever written and from my viewpoint, this is the best production I have ever seen. Thank you Barbara Gaines for bringing this marvelous work of art to the stage.

“The Comedy of Errors” will continue at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier thru April 16th with performances as follows:

Tuesdays    7:30 p.m. 4/4 and 4/11 only

Wednesdays   1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  7:30 p.m.

Saturdays  2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Sundays  2 p.m.

Tickets range from $49 and are available at 312-595-5600 or at www.chicagshakes.com

The theater is located at Navy Pier with discounted parking and several restaurants offering discounts if you are attending the theater.

Access Shakespeare are as follows:

Audio described April 2nd 2 p.m.

Open Caption performance Wednesday, April 12th  both 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

ASL Duo-Interpreted  Friday , April 14th  7:30 p.m.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Comedy of Errors”.