Comedy of Errors at Penlee Park Open Air Theatre
★★★★★
I recently went to see the Festival Players International in their performance of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. After having loved the comedy aspect of Much Ado About Nothing, I was very excited to see another Shakespearean comedy and this show certainly did not disappoint.
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*
Content Warnings:
Violence
Misogny
Audience Participation
Domestic Disputes/References to Domestic Abuse
My Review:
Anyone who knows me will know that I love a show that utilises multi-rolling, and Comedy of Errors was no different. The hilarity of the cast visibly running between different characters on stage added to the comedy of this production; however, it also showcased the talent of this entire company when it came to characterisation and the balancing of various characters within a scene. Going in, I did not know anything about Comedy of Errors, but this performance from Festival Players International made Shakespeare feel accessible and understandable, which is no easy feat. The production follows two sets of twins separated during childhood and the farce that unfolds when they unknowingly start meeting each other on the streets of Ephesus. With various mistaken identities and a whole host of other brilliant characters, this show really is one to catch! The company is made up of 5 actors who come together to bring all the characters of this play to life; these members are Ray Murphy (Antipholus of Syracuse/Antipholus of Ephesus), Ross Samuel (Dromio of Syracuse/Dromio of Ephesus), Christopher Commander (Gaoler/Adrianna/First & Second Merchant/Courtesan (Prostitute)), Peter D. Vicson (The Duke/Luciana/Angelo the Goldsmith/Pinch and Mark Spriggs (Egeon/Luce/Nell/Officer/The Abbess/Aemelia/The Messenger).
This production featured a pre-show, which is where Peter D. Vicson introduces the show and sells programmes throughout the audience. Seeing the initial audience interaction from actors, as well as getting a glimpse into the comedy that followed, was brilliant. This sequence also further increased my intrigue whilst waiting for the show to start. The main show opens with a mime-style sequence from Christopher Commander accompanied by what can only be described as relentless, squeaking noise. This proved to be utterly hilarious, leaving me in tears as the chaos began to unravel and the audience began to be involved (never thought I’d be following cheer instructions from a squeak sound). We are then introduced to Mark Spriggs as Egeon, who begins to tell the tale of the two sets of twins who became separated whilst at water, which smoothly led into the introduction of Ray Murphy as the Antipholus of Syracuse and Ross Samuel as Dromio of Syracuse and their arrival in Ephesus in search of their missing brothers. Once Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse arrive in Ephesus, complete farcical chaos ensues, and through the brilliance of this entire company, I was in stitches from start to finish. Not only did they provide excellent comedy, but they also ensured that the story was not lost and provided a clear introduction to Shakespeare, which should be seen by both those new to and familiar with his works. The multi-rolling in this show is extremely well planned, and at all moments you are aware of exactly who is on stage and who they are playing. There are also some particularly comedic moments where actors may be playing two characters, both of whom are on stage, and this is managed through the use of props, hats and costumes. Christopher Commander and Peter D. Vicson particularly stood out to me when they played Luciana and Adriana, respectively. Their facial expressions alone were brilliant, and their characterisation felt so well-considered for these characters and supported the comedy on which this show relies whilst also allowing for the development of their characters throughout their scenes. Mark Spriggs quickly swapping between roles near the end was joyous to watch, and he created such differentiation between his characters that I was always intrigued as to who he was going to be playing next and how he would bring them to life. Ray Murphy created such good distinction between the two brothers he played, and even if the costumes had not been slightly different, as an audience member you would have still noticed the difference. His focus on their individuality added to the humour when they were mistaken for each other, as the alteration in action and behaviour felt so obvious as an audience member, and I constantly wondered how the other characters did not notice this. Ross Samuel played the other set of twins and yet again provided such good distinction between the two, and I particularly enjoyed how they altered their interactions with others based on which brother they were playing, as it showed how differences in upbringing had altered how the brothers felt they could communicate with others. For example, by my interpretation, Dromio of Syracuse was much braver and more outspoken than his brother Dromio of Ephesus. This was particularly evident when the incorrect twins interacted, such as when Antipholus of Ephesus interacted with Dromio of Syracuse. This show heavily relied on the strength of characterisation from Ray Murphy and Ross Samuel, especially during the scenes when either Antipholus had asked either Dromio to complete a task. The utter confusion between the characters during these scenes was hilarious, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see either what chaos would follow or whether the characters would finally realise they were talking to the wrong person. This entire show was utterly brilliant, and I cannot recommend it enough!
I booked this show after seeing the venue and this show mentioned on a poster whilst on holiday, and I am so glad that I did, as I truly cannot have imagined a better way to spend my evening. I am so thrilled to now be aware of the Festival Players International, and I can’t wait to hopefully catch more of their shows in the future!
Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope this review has proved interesting and helpful for you :)
- AnxiousTheatregoer
