Review: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, Shakespeare’s Globe
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
As the summer season at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre winds down, audiences are treated to a triumphant return of The Comedy of Errors. Back by popular demand, this production whisks viewers to Elizabethan London with a vibrant take on one of Shakespeare's earliest and most beloved comedies.
Co-directed by Globe Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes (The Winter's Tale, 2023) and 2023 Globe Resident Associate Director Naeem Hayat (King Lear, 2022), this wildly entertaining tale transforms the Globe into a lively Mediterranean port town brimming with chaos. The production showcases the timeless appeal of Shakespeare's farcical masterpiece, delivering confusion, slapstick, crude jokes, and fast-paced wit in spades.
Set in Ephesus, The Comedy of Errors follows two sets of identical twins, separated at birth, whose paths cross in a series of increasingly ridiculous encounters. The plot, one of Shakespeare's most tightly constructed, unfolds at a breakneck pace, with each misunderstanding building upon the last to create a perfect storm of comedic confusion.
While not a conceptual or clever adaptation, The Comedy of Errors doesn't necessarily require such treatment. It's simply a good time, and both actors and audience revel in it. The play is essentially a showcase of clowns, which the cast embraces wholeheartedly.
Gabrielle Brooks and Shalisha James-Davis shine as sisters Adriana and Luciana, form a satisfyingly quick-witted and tempered duo. Brooks, in particular, excels as the fiery Adriana, her frustration with her seemingly errant husband building to hilarious heights as the play progresses. James-Davis as the levelheaded Luciana contrasts her sister just the right amount.
Christopher Logan's Angelo finds nuance and eccentric musicality amidst the physical humor and text, while Danielle Phillips boldly embodies chaotic energy as the Merchant. The brothers Antipholus of Ephesus (Caleb Roberts) and Antipholus of Syracuse (Daniel Adeosun), unknowingly mistaken for one another, share equal measures of charisma and brilliant comic timing. Roberts and Adeosun admirably differentiate their characters while maintaining the plausibility of their mix-up, no small feat given the demands of the text.
Their servants, Dromio of Ephesus (Sam Swann) and Dromio of Syracuse (Martin Quinn), command the stage with just enough heart to balance the absurdity of their circumstances. The growing frustration and confusion of all four as the play progresses is palpable, driving the comedy to ever greater heights.
Tamsin Hurtado Clarke's movement direction lends a strong sense of physical ensemble, creating a dynamic world. The cast moves through the space with a fluidity that creates moments of pure visual comedy. Maisie Carter's fight choreography is playful and engaging, with just enough surprises to keep the audience on their toes. The physical confrontations are both hilarious and impressive.
As with all of Shakespeare's works, problematic themes can present hurdles. In this instance, themes of misogyny, racism, and offensive language are acknowledged by the company but largely left unchallenged. This approach interestingly shifts focus to how the audience meets the work, rather than altering the work to suit modern sensibilities.
Hayat and Holmes have crafted an entertaining romp to close out the summer Globe season. Their direction keeps the energy high and the laughs coming, while still allowing for moments of genuine emotion amidst the chaos. The pacing is generally spot-on, though there are occasional inconsistencies between the more tender moments and the raucous scenes. These slight dips in energy are quickly recovered, however, and do little to detract from the overall enjoyment of the piece.
In the end, The Comedy of Errors at the Globe proves to be a joyous celebration of Shakespeare's comedic genius. It invites audiences to lose themselves in a world of mistaken identities, slapstick humour, and the enduring power of family bonds. As the curtain falls on the summer season, this production leaves us with a reminder of why Shakespeare's works continue to captivate and delight audiences centuries after they were first performed.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Stephanie Osztreicher
The Comedy of Errors plays at Shakespeare’s Globe until 27 October, with further info here.
