The Comedy of Errors, a CurtainUp review

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A CurtainUp Review
The Comedy of Errors
David Lohrey

I am an ass indeed; you may prove it by my long ears.
---Dromios

Since its founding in 1991, the Aquila Theatre Company has gained a reputation for producing classical work with daring imagination and skill. Last year's Much Ado was an enormous artistic success still talked about among local theatergoers. This summer's production of The Comedy of Errors has been much anticipated, but as directed and adapted by Robert Richmond, one has the sense that stage effects and spectacle have been achieved at the expense of stage meaning and substance.

The Comedy of Errors has the distinction of being the only play by Shakespeare with the word comedy in the title. Nonetheless, its genre has been a source of debate since Coleridge first called it a farce. Cribbed largely from a play by Plautus, this play has often been said to push the envelope of classical comedy. It contains such mind-bending conceits as the use identical twins. Plausibility is further tested by a wild and mostly coincidental plot structure.

Director Robert Richmond and his athletic, daring cast do everything but turn themselves inside out. On the one hand, it is an endlessly imaginative, colorful, often exhilarating madhouse of a production. One can't think how theatre space could be used to greater effect. One the other hand, it is exhausting and finally tiresome. The opening scene, a rather long but arresting bit, includes the actors' slow-motion entrances. The curtain call is a confetti-strewn extravaganza of gestures that sends the audience home wide-eyed and grinning. Between these two bookends comes an array of highly inventive theatre bits, but one may ask whether they concentrate or divert the mind. Either way, one can't deny that the creative team knows how to make the stage come alive.

Artistic Director Peter Meineck states in his stage notes to the audience that this production promises to be fun and accessible. This is a fair a characterization of its achievement (note the family-friendly playing times). The audience, especially those under 12, did indeed seem to enjoy themselves, but just what they gained access to remains a mystery. Pratfalls and somersaults are a joy to behold, but there are times when the actors seem to repeat comic movements for no other purpose than that of getting a laugh.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Written by William Shakespeare.
Adapter & Director: Robert Richmond.

Cast: Alex Webb, Mark Cameron Pow, Mark Saturno, Louis Butelli, John Butelli, Lisa Carter, Mira Kingsley, Celestina Villanueva, Bruce Saturno.
Production Design: Maineck & Richmond.
Lighting Design: Peter Meineck.
Costume Design: Sarah Hill.
Running Time: 2 Hours with one 15-minute intermission
The Aquila Theatre Company at East 13th Street Theater, 136 East 13th, NYC, (212) 239-6200.
Opens 7/11/2002 thru 9/1/02. Tuesday through Friday at 8pm; Sat at 5pm and 9pm, Sundays at 3pm and 7pm.
Reviewed by David Lohrey based on performance of 7/14/02.

6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
Click image to buy.
Go here for details and larger image.

©Copyright 2002, Elyse Sommer, CurtainUp Check valvereturn valve high pressure valvemanual valvevalvesvalve company motorized valve gate Valve .
Information from this site may not be reproduced in print or online without specific permission from esommer@curtainup.com The Comedy of Errors, a CurtainUp review

CurtainUp^TM

The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features, Annotated Listings
www.curtainup.com

A CurtainUp Review
The Comedy of Errors
David Lohrey

I am an ass indeed; you may prove it by my long ears.
---Dromios

Since its founding in 1991, the Aquila Theatre Company has gained a reputation for producing classical work with daring imagination and skill. Last year's Much Ado was an enormous artistic success still talked about among local theatergoers. This summer's production of The Comedy of Errors has been much anticipated, but as directed and adapted by Robert Richmond, one has the sense that stage effects and spectacle have been achieved at the expense of stage meaning and substance.

The Comedy of Errors has the distinction of being the only play by Shakespeare with the word comedy in the title. Nonetheless, its genre has been a source of debate since Coleridge first called it a farce. Cribbed largely from a play by Plautus, this play has often been said to push the envelop of classical comedy. It contains such mind-bending conceits as the use identical twins. Plausibility is further tested by a wild and mostly coincidental plot structure.

Director Robert Richmond and his athletic, daring cast do everything but turn themselves inside out. On the one hand, it is an endlessly imaginative, colorful, often exhilarating madhouse of a production. One can't think how theatre space could be used to greater effect. One the other hand, it is exhausting and finally tiresome. The opening scene, a rather long but arresting bit, includes the actors' slow-motion entrances. The curtain call is a confetti-strewn extravaganza of gestures that sends the audience home wide-eyed and grinning. Between these two bookends comes an array of highly inventive theatre bits, but one may ask whether than concentrate or divert the mind. Either way, one can't deny that the creative team knows how to make the stage come alive.

Artistic Director Peter Meineck states in his stage notes to the audience that this production promises to fun and accessible. This is a fair a characterization of the production's achievement (note the production's family-friendly playing times). The audience, especially those under 12, did indeed seem to enjoy themselves, but just what they gained access to remains a mystery. Pratfalls and somersaults are a joy to behold, but if this is the theatre's sole artistic aim, one wonders why they bother with the Shakespeare at all. There are times when the actors seem to repeat comic movements for no other purpose than that of getting a laugh. One can't help thinking that in their effort to appeal to children, they've reduced their work to mindless antics. They could just as well put on a circus, and spare themselves the trouble of remembering so many lines.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Written by William Shakespeare.
Adapted & Director: Robert Richmond.

6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
Click image to buy.
Go here for details and larger image.