The Comedy of Errors
by William Shakespeare

When & Where July 2 - September 21, 2024; evening 7.30pm, matinees on Sat & Sun 2pm | Howard Family Stage

Director Rebecca Northan Costume Designer Christine Reimer Set Designer Ryan Cormack Sound Designer Ben Elliott Lighting Designer Hina Nishioka Production Stage Manager Rebecca Mulvihill

Reviewer Christian Steckler


The Comedy of Errors is true to its name. Its comedic nature, based on plausible, but hardly likely, mistaken identities, keeps the audience giggling, guffawing, chuckling and laughing throughout the production.

The story centers on two sets of twins, one set masters, and the other set their servants who find themselves in Ephesus at a time of conflict when travellers from Syracuse are put to death should they appear in Ephesus. An old man, Egeon of Syracuse, is tried by the Duke of Ephesus. He has come to Ephesus searching for news of his twin sons who were separated as infants in a shipwreck. One of his sons, Antipholus, raised by Egeon, has left home some time before in search of his twin brother along with his attendant Dromio, whose twin brother also disappeared in the shipwreck. Who would have thought that the foundlings of the shipwreck would also be named Antipholus and Dromio? Egeon has come to Ephesus to find word of his sons. The Duke gives him a day to try to raise 1000 marks ransom; otherwise, he will be put to death. And so, the antics arising from mistaken identity involving two sets of twins with the same names unfold.

Rebecca Northan’s adaptation and brilliant direction of an outrageously talented cast results in hilarious convolutions and plot twists. With impressive sets, lights and sounds that are attractive, effective and functional, and in beautiful costumes that are marvellously colourful, and cleverly designed, the actors move constantly from one place to another, always engaging, and pushing the plot forward, and digging themselves ever deeper into confusion and conflict. The result is almost constant audible engagement from the audience, punctuated often with uproarious laughter.

Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse are played brilliantly with charm befitting men of position by Jeremy Lewis. Tal Shulman shines in his energetic and not always painless situations that both Dromios find themselves in. Meaghan Chenosky is wonderfully outraged by the apparently insulting behaviour of her husband as Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus. And Synthia Yusuf, as Luciana, is superb in her care for Adriana, her disgust at perceived adulterous come-ons, and her susceptibility to genuine romance. Tess Degenstein is a surprisingly believable Duke, and a suitably dubious doctor. Craig Erickson is a perfectly sympathetic Egeon in his principal role which was announced at the beginning of the performance, if this reviewer was correct in hearing. He was mightily emphatic in his reactions to imagined mistreatment as Balthazar, a jeweller. Special mention must be made of Karthik Kadam, who played a dynamically credible outraged short-changed merchant, but who shone as a courtesan, winning over the audience at every appearance. Kudos to Emma Houghton, Jacob Woike and Raugi Yu for their effective, but all-too-short appearances.

As with all performances at Bard on the Beach, the quality of The Comedy of Errors is stellar. Go see it.

© 2024 Christian Steckler