 | Comedy of Errors |  |
"It is thyself, mine own self's better part,
Mine eye's clear eye, my dear heart's dearer heart,
My food, my fortune and my sweet hope's aim,
My sole earth's heaven and my heaven's claim." Act III, scene ii
Written: 1593
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre ; July 16, 2005 Chicago, Illinois
Starring :
Reviewed on : 2005-07-19 08:11:20 ; Reviewed by : Margarete Mandry
| Set in the 20's and given a traveling circus ambiance, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre production of the Comedy of Errors evokes the burlesque in Shakespeare's play.
The entire production was played for laughs, using a lot of physical comedy as well as the verbal puns in the text. One can almost imagine Shakespeare giggling to himself as he wrote it.
The costumes were a fascinating combination of period accuracy combined with the makeshift quality and bright colours of a theatre troupe with a small budget. All this serves to remind us that this is indeed a play within a play and that the "characters" are a troupe of actors, inept though they appear to be.
That cannot be said of the performances that brilliantly connote the delicate balance of playing two characters at once. And yet the audience does get so involved in the plot that they forget that Dromio and Antipholus and actually characters forged by this troupe of traveling actors.
The circus theme again comes to the forefront with the juggling act dressing the set of the restaurant. Brilliantly managed and expertly timed, this caused the audience to gasp in amazement.
All in all, this is an hilarious and enjoyable summer play that's fun for all ages.
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Sir John Gilbert, R.A.,
Comedy of Errors
Reviews
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July 11, 2009 |  | Midsummer Festival
June 27, 2008 | | CAP 21
April 12, 2008 |  | Stratford Festival of Canada
August 4, 2007 |  | Marin Shakespeare Company
September 9, 2006 |  | Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
August 1, 2006 |  | The Shakespeare Festival
July 23, 2006 |  | Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
July 16, 2005 |  | Bomb-Itty of Errors
2002 |  | Shakespeare Repertory
1997 | | BBC
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