Bard on the Beach Comedy of Errors

Bard on the Beach’s third summer offering is a hilarious staging of The Comedy of Errors. As if one set of shipwrecked twins (in Twelfth Night) wasn’t enough, get ready for double trouble (and double casting) in Shakespeare’s tale of two sets of twins who even share the same name!

Mistaken identities and comedic chaos ensue when one master and servant duo from Syracuse show up in the same city as an identical duo from Ephesus.

Bard on the Beach Comedy of Errors

First, some background information. A wealthy merchant named Egeon goes on a business trip with his very pregnant wife Emilia. While in Epidamnum, Emilia gives birth to twins, both named Antipholus. Why any parent would want to name their identical sons the same name is part of the absurd logic of the play.

By another impossible coincidence, a poor woman in the same inn also bears identical twins, both named Dromio. Egeon buys them as servants for his sons. Unfortunately, the family is separated by a bad storm on their return voyage. Emilia takes one set of twins while Egeon hangs on to the other set. Egeon raises his Antipholus and Dromio in Syracuse, but they always long to be reunited with their lost kin.

Meanwhile, the other Antipholus and Dromio grow up in nearby Ephesus. They probably never know of each other because travel between the towns is forbidden due to a dispute between the rulers. If only they had Facebook! The rest of the tale is a compounding cascade of errors, misunderstandings, and comedic mayhem as the twins and those around them navigate a day filled with confusion and misadventure.

Tal Shulman
[Tal Shulman]

Director Rebecca Northan has stayed true to the original era of Shakespeare’s work, setting her rendition in the ancient Greece of flowing robes, strappy sandals and short togas.

Costume designer Christine Reimer’s quick-change pieces play a pivotal role in distinguishing characters, as the small cast of 10 actors deftly shift between nearly 30 roles. However, some initial confusion arises because the subtle costume differentiations among the two sets of twins and Eegon/Angelo detract from the clarity needed to fully appreciate the intricate web of mistaken identities.

Tal Shulman, Jeremy Lewis, Karthik Kadam
[Tal Shulman, Jeremy Lewis, Karthik Kadam]

Perhaps slightly more obvious differentiators are needed. What really helps are Jeremy Lewis and Tal Shulman, who shine in their roles as the Antipholus twins, skillfully portraying distinct personality traits and mannerisms through their glorious slapstick performances.

Antipholus of Syracuse with a gentler demeanour is matched by a playful Dromio; Antipholus of Ephesus with a fiery temper is reflected in his quick-witted servant. The second half after intermission is more entertaining once character identities are established.

Scott Bellis, Jeremy Lewis, Karthik Kadam, Raugi Yu
[Scott Bellis, Jeremy Lewis, Karthik Kadam, Raugi Yu]

It’s quite clever how Northan uses the lack of bodies to heighten the comedy by manipulating costumes. To further mix identities, she has delightfully cast Tess Degenstein as the male Duke, in full regal beard, and Karthik Kadam as a sultry, seductive courtesan.

Both actors play their roles with genuine relish, to the sheer delight of the audience. Scott Bellis, having previously directed Bard’s 2015 steam-punk-inspired Comedy of Errors, now graces the stage as Eegon/Angelo, bringing experience and depth to his roles.

Craig Erickson
[Craig Erickson]

Craig Erickson subbed for Raugi Yu on opening night and let loose his comedic chops as the various lawmen, and made for a sympathetic Abbess as well. Meaghan Chernosky, portraying the main character Adriana, struggles with audibility issues at times, unfortunately hindering clarity in her performance.

Meaghan Chenosky, Synthia Yusuf
[Meaghan Chenosky, Synthia Yusuf]

Within the confines of a smaller space, set designer Ryan Cormack has erected weathered stone steps, multiple archways, and flower garlands reminiscent of the Hellenic period. The stage is set up in such a way that sightline issues in the leftmost seats of Section 3 are impossible to avoid. Since some pivotal action occurs behind the doorways, this staging is best enjoyed from Section 2 or seats directly adjacent.

Unlike the introspective Hamlet, this play is very light fare in the Shakespearean canon. Weighty issues such as social hierarchy, infidelity, marital violence, servant abuse – even a pending execution – are merely touched upon.

Jeremy Lewis
[Jeremy Lewis]

The superficial treatment of these themes relegates the characters to a one-dimensional existence. The Street Merchant and the Courtesan aren’t even given names and the main characters share the same name! The poor Dromios get all the tirades and anything unexplained gets blamed on witches!

This physical farce relies on precise timing amongst the players and made-for-laughs props. Complimentary lighting and sound by Hina Nishioka and Ben Elliott create an immersive experience for the audience.

Bard on the Beach’s The Comedy of Errors impresses with energetic performances, capturing the essence of Shakespearean comedy, despite minor character depth issues. This production will delight audiences seeking a night of light-hearted amusement and theatrical escapism.

Playing until September 21, be sure to arrive early to enjoy a Greek-style artisan market outside the Howard Family Stage. 

Photos by Tim Matheson.

About Our Contributor Cora Li

Cora Li

Cora dabbles in arts, technology, food, and travel. She loves that Vancouver offers a vast playground for exploring all of her passions. Cora’s most memorable job to date was working with VANOC during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.