The Comedy of Errors
In synch with Shakespeare’s
overly exuberant script (where, for example, he added
a second set of twins not present in the story that
serves as the play’s source), the costumes and sets
were overly colorful and fanciful, with glittery striped
fabrics and outrageous turbans and a steeply raked two-story
set representing streets lined with shops, houses and
a church built in a forced perspective. Jim McKie and
Kim Curtis worked brilliantly together, and as a bonus,
Kim enlisted her brother David, a Clio award-winning
graphic artist, who gave us our first full color poster
design.
 Two
actors returned for their third seasons: Ian Swift and
Paul Sulzman.
The multi-talented Jim McKie gave a bravura performance
as a maniacal Dr. Pinch.
Sixteen teenage apprentices
were merchants, hucksters and other denizens of Ephesus’
marketplace.And some real magic was added to the works
by Ken Sonkin – not only a wonderfully talented actor,
but also a professional magician.
Ken played both of the Dromios and his post-intermission
magic act, when Dromio of Syracuse found a basket
left by the town’s resident snake charmer which contained
all sorts of mysterious devices, was a highlight of
the show.
Unfortunately, some of the
critics didn’t realize that Ken Sonkin played both
of the Dromios and Paul Sulzman both of the Antipholi.
We realized (too late) that the fake names inserted
in the playbill were perhaps not the best idea, and
that perhaps the production had succeeded too well
in its overly playful exaggeration of mistaken identities.
From the Playbill:
“We are delighted to bring you Shakespeare’s only
true farce, the wacky, wonderful, riotous celebration
of buffoonery and confusion, The Comedy of Errors. This production marks the realization of one of our
original goals: the creation of a summer apprentice
program for emerging theatre artists….In addition
to our apprentice program, Marin Shakespeare Company
offers several other special events and outreach programs.
This summer we will present four free pre-show conversations
with scholars and company artists. In September we
offer two special performances for high school students.
New programs this year include a Young Audience Access
Program and a signed performance for the hearing impaired.
The revels of The Feast of Good Will, our outdoor
Elizabethan banquet in celebration of Opening Night
have never been better….So get set for a madcap romp
with some of Shakespeare’s most outrageous and loveable
characters as you enjoy "The Comedy of Errors.”
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