Extra Errors
Monday, April 7th by scott malia
Despite its seemingly complex plot, The Comedy of Errors (one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays) is actually quite simple: two sets of twins get separated, only to re-encounter each other as adults. Complicating matters is the fact that each twin has the same name as his doppelganger. Mistaken identities ensue, with actions repeatedly attributed to the wrong set of twins. It is a conceit that has the potential to wear thin if the production does not feature lightning-fast pacing. Otherwise, the play runs the risk of coming off as a one-joke comedy (despite Shakespeare’s sharp writing).
This may explain why a new production of The Comedy of Errors has decided to add some new ideas to the mix. In this version, the play is given a unique framework structure to deepen the level of complications. Set during World War II in a film studio, the framework story finds a group of actors in the process of filming The Comedy of Errors during the London air raids. As a result, each actor in the production plays two roles: their part in The Comedy of Errors, and their actor character in the World War II framework.
This approach allows the production to comment on the play itself. In addition, the time period allows for an obvious nod to the screwball comedy genre, a highly tuned, fast-paced farcical form that came of age in the 1930s and 1940s. The multiple layers of this version will ensure that the audience doesn’t have time to question the plot while they are enjoying the silly fun.
