The ASP’s wild
and wooly take on Shakespeare’s shortest (and funniest) play, THE COMEDY OF
ERRORS, is only running through Oct. 19th so race to the Brighton
High School or you’ll miss one of the best shows of the season.
Shakespeare
borrowed the bones of his plot from Plautus’ earlier version but not content to
have only one set of twins to run amok, the Bard added a second set to be their
servants, thereby quadrupling the laughter. (Each twosome of man and manservant
has the same names as the other couple, just to solidify the confusion. You can
see why nerves are gloriously frayed.)
Director David
R. Gammons ups the complications a wee bit more by setting the comedy in a down
at heel country circus where an impatient ringleader (Cameron M. Cronin of
Imaginary Beasts fame) puts his performers through their paces. The more
exasperated Cronin becomes, the better for us. He gripes endlessly at the
troupe’s hilarious missteps, consulting a miniature, suede bound collector’s
copy of the script. The only thing more delicious is a resentful Cronin all
dolled up in red wig and gown to play a courtesan because he’s run out of
performers.
The ERRORS do
get sorted out and the misunderstandings ironed out but not before reaching
wit’s end: Plungers are drawn as weapons, dinnerware goes air born and an
elephant trumpets his protest from back stage. A goodly half the actors double
and triple roles, without regard to age or gender so a pink bewigged, bearded
Richard Snee becomes the coy sister of one twin’s wife. Snee pulls it off so
demurely, we can see why the other twin is smitten! Gammons’ game actors manage
the controlled hysteria like skillful jugglers, never “run[ning] the humour out
of breath.”
Jesse Hinson’s
twin desperately gestures his lines as if we haven’t heard or understood them.
Omar Robinson, as Hinson’s twin, likewise shouts his dialogue…which stands to
reason as each is mirror to the other, in appearance and dubious judgment.
Susan S. McGinnis and Eddie Shields join the romp of mistaken identities as the
servants. (It’s Gail Astrid Buckley’s inspired costumes which really identify
the characters.) Without the “hat”-“no hat” device we would have no hope of
separating Sarah Newhouse’s characters who appear together, simultaneously!
Paige Clark
masters five (six counting the sideshow conceit) characters with aplomb and
Ryan O’Connor towers over the proceedings with vacant, back ringed eyes, in a
skeletal costume inspired, perhaps, by a Tim Burton movie. His “hollow eyed”
schoolmaster is the “living dead man” Shakespeare describes. Even his Nell is
frightening. Adding to the humor are David Wilson’s musical and sound
punctuations. O HAPPY DAY, indeed.
