SHORT SHAKESPEARE!
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
75-minute comedy is perfect introduction to Shakespeare for audiences of all ages
Saturdays at 11:00am, January 25–February 29, 2020
Guest Review
By Kimberly Robb Baker
What a gift it was to enjoy Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors from a cast that was so clearly connected to each other, the material, and the audience. Deftly adapted by David H. Bell, the 75-minute rendition felt complete and engaged our audience of children and adults from pre-show antics to closing bows.
Mistaken identities abound as two sets of long-lost twins—Dromio of Ephesus (Sam Linda, far left) and Dromio of Syracuse (Ian Maryfield, far right) and Antipholus of Ephesus (Casey Hoekstra, center left) and Antipholus of Syracuse (Adam Wesley Brown, center right)—cross paths on one bewildering day. All Photos by Liz Lauren.
Directed originally by Bell and on this stage by Eli Newell, the talented cast helped us understand and enjoy The Bard, with many moments of bated breath and uproarious laughter. There was not a single weak link in costuming, lighting, set, sound, or performance.
Adriana (Nora Carroll, at left) shares a moment with her sister Luciana (Phoebe González, at right) before mistaken identities threaten to pull them apart.
Shakespeare being a product of his time, there is plenty of sexism and gender conformity built into the play, but Nora Carroll as an Adriana, Lillian Castillo as both Amelia and an empowered sex worker of a courtesan, and Phoebe González as Luciana all inhabit their roles and interpret their lines with such power that I could be convinced the Bard had a feminist bent.
The two sets of twins and the rest of the versatile cast, including the lusty kitchen wench Luce who chases her mate’s lookalike all over the theater to much hilarity, make every moment of the play perfect. As a bonus, it’s set in the WPA era with back story and costume to match—a fun shift for Shakespeare.
An infuriated Antipholus of Ephesus (Casey Hoekstra) is detained by the officers (Samuel Douglas, Dan Plehal, Jack D. Olin)
In short, whether you’re young or old, a Shakespeare newbie or seasoned connoisseur, get thee to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. This new take on an old goodie will not disappoint.
Kimberly Robb Baker is a Chicago based writer, blogger, consultant, story teller, and mother. You can find her worky stuff here: ThisLittleBrand.com and her artsy fartsy stuff here: DisruptiveMama.com.
The Bumbellini (Jack D. Olin, Dan Plehal, Samuel Douglas) delight audiences with acrobatics and slapstick antics
Spend your Saturday with Shakespeare:
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents
SHORT SHAKESPEARE!
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Chicago Shakespeare Theater invites audiences to spend their Saturday with Shakespeare in this cleverly abridged, 75-minute production of Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors on Saturdays at 11:00am, January 25–February 29, 2020 in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. Filled to the brim with acrobatics and mayhem, the hilarity and hijinks of Shakespeare's comedy are larger-than-life in this vibrant and fast-paced production, making it the perfect introduction to Shakespeare for audiences of all ages.
Mistaking him for her husband, Adriana (Nora Carroll) makes romantic advances towards a befuddled Antipholus of Syracuse (Adam Wesley Brown)—as Dromio of Syracuse (Ian Maryfield) looks on aghast
The story unfolds when Antipholus and his lifelong companion Dromio find themselves in Ephesus as they search the world over for a twin, lost in infancy. Everywhere they go in this foreign land, complete strangers insist that they’re best of friends. Is everyone here quite mad? Mistaken identities abound, as one bewildering day in Ephesus makes for hysterical complications—and a bewitching theatrical experience.
The company of The Comedy of Errors features Adam Wesley Brown (Antipholus of Syracuse), Nora Carroll (Adriana), Lillian Castillo (Troupe Manager/Courtesan/ Emilia), Samuel Douglas (Second Merchant/Hamlet/Waiter), Phoebe González (Luciana), Casey Hoekstra (Antipholus of Ephesus), Sam Linda (Dromio of Ephesus), Ian Maryfield (Dromio of Syracuse), Jack D. Olin (Waiter/Messenger/Jailer), Dan Plehal (First Merchant/Officer/Waiter), Nima Rakhshanifar (Angelo), Drew Shirley (Egeon/Luce/Dr. Pinch), and Laurence Stepney (Duke of Ephesus/ Balthazar).
Creating the world of The Comedy of Errors are Original Scenic Designer Tom Burch with Additional Scenic Elements by Alan E. Schwanke, Costume Designer Ana Kuzmanic, Lighting Designer Michelle E. Benda, Sound Designer Eric Backus, and Wig and Make-up Designer Richard Jarvie. Also joining Newell on the creative team are Composer Jonathan Bauerfeld and Verse Coach Chaon Cross, as well as Assistant Director Megan Gray, Intimacy Choreographer Tristin Hall, Movement Coach Max Fabian, and Movement Assistant Wesley Truman Daniel.
In addition to public performances on Saturdays, Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors will welcome 30,000 students during its six-week run of weekday matinees in The Yard, followed by a two-week tour to schools across the region through March 12, 2020.
Chicago Shakespeare’s Short Shakespeare! series is part of the Theater’s nationally recognized Team Shakespeare education programs, which have impacted two million students to date. Chicago Shakespeare brings Shakespeare’s work to life in the school curriculum—through live performance, professional learning for educators, comprehensive teaching resources, and opportunities for students to perform Shakespeare. These initiatives—in concert with the free citywide Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour and summer family musical series—exemplify the Theater’s steadfast commitment to young audiences and ensure that one in four audience members is age 18 or under.
Chicago Shakespeare strives to make its facility and performances accessible to all patrons through its Access Shakespeare programs.
Accessible performances for Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors include:
Audio-described Performance – Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 11:00am
A program that enables patrons who are blind or have low vision to more fully experience live performances by providing spoken narration of a play’s key visual elements.
ASL Duo-interpreted Performance – Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 11:00am
All dialogue and lyrics are translated into American Sign Language by two certified interpreters.
Open-captioned Performances – Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 11:00am
A text display of the words and sounds heard during a play, synced live with the action onstage.
Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors will be presented on Saturdays at 11:00am from January 25–February 29, 2020 in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, Single tickets ($24 for audience members age 18 and under; $36 for adults) are on sale now. Special discounts will be available for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater’s website at www.chicagoshakes.com.
Clutching his twin sons, Egeon (Drew Shirley, at center) fears for his life during a storm at sea as the crew (from left to right: Dan Plehal, Nora Carroll, Laurence Stepney) abandon ship
ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, Chicago Shakespeare has redefined what a great American Shakespeare theater can be—a company that defies theatrical category. This Regional Tony Award-winning theater’s year-round season features as many as twenty productions and 650 performances—including plays, musicals, world premieres, family programming, and presentations from around the globe. Chicago Shakespeare is the city’s leading presenter of international work, and has toured its own productions across five continents. The Theater’s nationally acclaimed arts in literacy programs support the work of teachers, and bring Shakespeare to life on stage for tens of thousands of students annually. Each summer, the company tours a free professional production to neighborhood parks across Chicago. In 2017 the Theater unveiled The Yard, which, together with the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater and the Thoma Theater Upstairs, positions Chicago Shakespeare as Chicago’s most versatile performing arts center.
A company of traveling players comes together to present Shakespeare’s riotous comedy in Chicago Shakespeare’s 75-minute abridged production of Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors, directed by Eli Newell with adaptation and original direction by David H. Bell, on Saturdays at 11:00am, January 25–February 29, 2020. Photo by Liz Lauren.
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