By Lori Simmons Zelenko
Mistaken identity and the resulting mayhem result in this vital, vigorous, non-stop rendering of Shakespeare’s outrageous, wonderfully crazy comedy. Set with hoedown flair in both the US and Mexico, the plot revolves around two sets of identical twins separated by stormy seas. When one pair dares to trespass into Mexico to find the other, the comedy of errors begins and the long- lost brothers must overcome wrongful imprisonment, angry wives, and hilarious confusion on their journey to a joyful reunion.
No fancy sets burden this traveling troupe. Simply the actors on a suggestion of a stage perhaps implying a Texas border crossing in its parched minimalism, let you fill in the scenery with your imagination. Seven actors bring this uproarious comedy to life and when there isn’t an actor to play a role, a hat stands in – a livelier presence than you might ever imagine. The characters, hunky leading men, sexy ladies who would give Sofia Vergara a run for her money, entertain wildly delivering non-stop laughs and of course, witty comeuppances to all who trespass. Never resting, the actors, the plot, the action is in perpetual motion with each moment more entertaining than the next.
Madcap misadventures with a happy ending, what more could an evening of theatre deliver? No errors, just fun for all in the Public’s
COMEDY.
Shakespeare’s THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, directed by esteemed British playwright (and director of Baltimore ‘s Center Stage), Kwame Kwei-Armah has a sit-down run at The Public Theater from through Sunday, November 22.
“The Mobile Unit is at the heart of The Public Theater,” said Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. “After Kwame Kwei- Armah’s wonderful production of Much Ado About Nothing, we’re thrilled to welcome him back with the most youthful and joyous of Shakespeare’s comedies, The Comedy of Errors.”
The complete cast of THE COMEDY OF ERRORS features Matthew Citron (Officer, Musician); Bernardo Cubria (Antiphoulus of Syracuse, Antiphoulus of Ephesus); Flor De Liz Perez (Luciana, Second Merchant); Christina Pumariega (Adriana); Lucas Caleb Rooney (Dromio of Syracuse, Dromio of Ephesus); David Ryan Smith (Egeon); and Zuzanna Szadkowski
(Solina).
Tickets priced at $20 for THE COMEDY OF ERRORS at The Public are available now. Tickets can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, visiting www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street.
The Public Theater’s MOBILE SHAKESPEARE UNIT, part of The Public Theater’s long-standing commitment to bringing free Shakespeare to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts by visiting correctional facilities, homeless shelters, social service organizations, and other community venues.
“I’ve seen almost 75 community tour performances with the Mobile Unit and never tire of watching audiences who start out skeptical of Shakespeare then erupt in laughter and applause throughout the show,” said Director of Special Artistic Projects Stephanie Ybarra. “This is what the Mobile Unit was designed to do – offer up all of the joy and wonderment of world-class theater to underserved audiences throughout New York.”
MOBILE SHAKESPEARE UNIT, now in its sixth year, is a reinvention of Joseph Papp’s Mobile Shakespeare program, which began in 1957 to bring Shakespeare to the masses, evolving into the New York Shakespeare Festival and ultimately becoming The Public Theater.
PHOTO CREDIT: JOAN MARCUS
