|
A Comedy of Errors, by William
Shakespeare.
Trinity College Gardens, 17th - 28th July 2001
The plot of A Comedy of Errors more than usually absurd even
for a Shakespeare comedy, involving as it does identical twins (both
called Antipholus) with identical manservants (both called Dromio)
who, perhaps fortunately under the circumstances, have been separated
at birth. One Antipholus now lives with his Dromio, his wife Adriana
and her sister Luciana in Ephesus, whither the other pair have just
arrived from Syracuse.
Comedic confusion ensues, in this excellent production from The City
of Oxford Theatre Guild. With such a scenario the actors are really
obliged to play things up; but what impresses most is their consistency
and charm. All the main characters (the two sets of twins, and the
wife and sister) succeed in keeping the pitch appropriately extravagant
without becoming caricatures; and all deliver their dialogue, particularly
the rhyming couplets, with rhythm and clarity. Rosie Emmanuel as Adriana
is particularly commendable, managing to deliver many of her lines
in an increasingly hysterical shriek without becoming irritating or
losing the sense (or indeed her voice); while Deborah Morris as her
sister garnered more than one laugh with just a deft expression or
gesture. The Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse, played by Bill Moulford
and Stuart Parker respectively, show a real chemistry in their Blackadderesque
relationship and retain a believable bewilderment as they stagger
through a strange city where everyone seems to know them. The script
gives the other pair somewhat less opportunity to shine, but they
too give their performances a character that prevented their been
lost in the frenzy.
The play's set and costume design are attractive and effective, and
the choreography is fittingly kinetic with some marvellous slap-stick
moments, all the more impressively energetic when you realise that
it has already been running for a week. A lively and charming production.
Alex Williams, 23 / 7 / 01
|