Comedy Of Errors

By: William Shakespeare

Stratford Festival Canada

Avon Theatre

Runs May 17 to October 26

Director: Richard Monette

4 Stars

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey

Snobs dislike Shakespeare’s lighter side, but those who appreciate his depth of storytelling, intelligent plotlines and wit are able to see his comedies and tragedies on an equal balance. So it comes as no surprise that Richard Monette, for his final season as Artistic Director of the Canadian Stratford Festival would aptly choose The Comedy Of Errors as his swan song. Omitting pomp and galour, Monette seems to have enjoyed jest and cheek as a way to say goodbye. For as the Academy Awards has yet to grasp, comedy can often be harder to master than dramatics; people are much more discriminate as to what they will laugh about than what they will be moved by.

Comedy Of Errors is a Noises Off for the Elizabethan era; a case of mistaken identities and outrageous plotlines can only allow for hilarity to ensue. Two men, master and servant, descend upon Ephesus, where two men of the same names as master and servant already live; mistaken identities and fallacies veiled in truths makes up much of this play which intends to be entertainment at its wittiest. Monette and his cast for this particular production of The Comedy Of Errors seemed to comprehend the essence of the play, and much of the play aspired to the likes of Pantomime, Cabaret, and Slapstick, all of which Shakespeare himself would have used, had those forms been invented in his lifetime.

All the actors seemed to impart a strong level of commitment to their performances, making the production no less gripping because it is in the realm of comedy. Particular accolades for performances would go to the two Dromio`s (Bruce Dow and Steve Ross) , the two Antipholus (David Snelgrave and Tom McManus) and Balthasar played by Lawrence Haegert who always seemed to get a laugh for his hippie-druggie persona from the audience at his mere presence on stage. Standouts were Brigit Wilson as the Courtesan and an absolutely well cast and illuminating Sophia Walker as Luciana. Tom McManus who is also playing Sir Robert Chiltern in this years` An Ideal Husband at the Stratford Festival did a superb job of the plays synopsis three quarters of the way through; a difficult and confusing speech for any performer, McManus seemed to take charge and swilled the drunken outpouring of confusion with a highly seasoned command of the stage.

Possibly the most delightful part of this Comedy Of Errors was the pop culture references so aptly placed within the plays confines, which served the plays intentions as well as adding more laughter to an already hilarious story. With references to Scarlet O’Hara’s `as God as my witness I’ll never go hungry again,` Dorothy’s `I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore` and homage to Marilyn Monroe, the hippie generation, and 1920s Cabaret were high points for the audience, who laughed uproariously at all the pop culture insertions. The only distraction that felt a little overdone (and I don’t criticize any Artistic Director for doing this) was the `shameless plug` for other productions at the Festival this year thrown into the play. It was funny the first and second time, but the third time I half expected a donation bowl to be handed around as if I were in Church. Of course what farcical would be complete without the traditional Elizabethan dog and cat trick, which was well executed in this production.

Overall, Comedy Of Errors at this years` Stratford Festival was a pleasant experience that set out to make the audience laugh and leave in a better mood then when they entered the theatre. So to those snobs who think Shakespeare has to be dowsed in over analysis, hang up your cerebral boxing gloves for the night and simply sit back and enjoy this one!

I considered this an apt salute to Richard Monette as an Artistic Director at the end of his tenure as this production shows he doesn’t take himself too seriously and like any good actor, exited the stage with whimsy and class.

Artistic credits:

Director / RICHARD MONETTE
Set Designer / MICHAEL GIANFRANCESCO
Costume Designer / DANA OSBORNE
Lighting Designer / KEVIN FRASER
Composer / KEITH THOMAS
Sound Designer / KEITH HANDEGORD
Fight Director / JOHN STEAD
Choreographer / LAWRENCE HAEGERT
Commedia Master Teacher / PERRY SCHNEIDERMAN

The cast
Dr. Pinch / WALTER BORDEN
Duke of Ephesus / IAN DEAKIN
Dromio of Syracuse / BRUCE DOW
Second Merchant / PAUL ESSIEMBRE
Headsman / EDOUARD FONTAINE
Adriana / ALLEGRA FULTON
Balthasar / LAWRENCE HAEGERT
Luce / ELI HAM
Angelo / JEAN-MICHEL Le GAL
First Merchant / ROY LEWIS
Antipholus of Ephesus / TOM McCAMUS
Abbess / CHICK REID
Dromio of Ephesus / STEVE ROSS
Antipholus of Syracuse / DAVID SNELGROVE
Egeon / BRIAN TREE
Luciana / SOPHIA WALKER
Courtesan / BRIGIT WILSON

Also Appearing:
LISA BERRY, IN-SURP CHOI, RAQUEL DUFFY, SHANNON EIZENGA, JENNIFER MOREHOUSE, ERIN NEAL.

Associate Director / TIMOTHY ASKEW

Stage Manager / NORA POLLEY
Assistant Stage Managers / HOLLY KORHONEN, CORINNE RICHARDS
Apprentice Stage Manager / LISA HUMBER
Production Assistant / MATTHEW MacINNIS
Production Stage Manager / ANNE MURPHY