Michael Hagins Knocks It Out of the Park with an Early Farce from the Bard

Aptly named, The Comedy of Errors is a product of Shakespeare’s early period. Sharply plotted and wonderfully absurdist, it draws heavily on misunderstandings, wordplay, physical comedy, and puns. In other words, perfect for a revisit in 2025. Shakespearean Master Michael Hagins has brought the circa-1594 work roaring into the present with a series of summer outdoor performances produced by the Shakespeare Sports Theatre Company, including two at Central Park’s Summit Rock, a perfect venue if there ever was one for this type of production.

The Comedy of Errors takes place in Greece, and concerns not one, but two sets of twins who had been separated at birth. Antipholus of Syracuse (Vic Gitre) brings his servant Dromio of Syracuse (Emily Glaser) to Ephesus—unbeknownst to them, the city where their respective twin brothers, Antipholus of Ephesus (Charlie Keegan James) and his own servant Dromio of Ephesus (Jennifer Kim) reside. Thus begins a madcap, hilariously chaotic adventure of mistaken identity that is a delightful precursor to the tropes of hundreds of modern film and TV comedies. (The misunderstanding between a goldsmith and the wrong Antipholus, involving an impressive piece of bling, is a particular hilarious highlight.)

Director/choreographer Hagins brings his expert hand to an accomplished production, which incorporates the traditional half-masks of Renaissance Comedia—very handy (or face-y?) in depicting our two sets of befuddled twins. The staging is exceptional and the costumes elegant, and it is a treat to see the performers donning them in the charming park setting, giving a sense of true timelessness to the experience. Props are used to great comedic effect—from finger puppets, to a Sith lightsaber, to a giant swirly lollipop that doubles as a paddle when a certain character gets “out of line”. A red curtain held in place at appropriate junctures makes for some amusing entrances and exits. As evidenced at Summit Rock, the performers use the vast space wonderfully, making entrances from the surrounding trees; running, hopping, and skipping into the scene as they navigate the elevated grass, rocks, and steps. The ensemble possesses an astonishing physicality that is deftly choreographed and well-serves the tone of the play. It adds another level of free-spiritedness to the already deliciously zany piece, which eventually escalates to a hysterical climax that finally features both Antipholuses and Dromios with all the other (comically confused) characters. It makes for an incredibly enjoyable afternoon of classic theatre, beautifully realized by a great director and his expert team. It’s a text that the entire company clearly adores, and that joy is palpably felt by the audience. The Comedy of Errors is an entertaining and enjoyable tale told in an economical 80 minutes, and another positive triumph for Hagins and the Shakespeare Sports Theatre Company.

The Comedy of Errors is stage-managed by Adam Sherwin and also features Melissa Meli as Adriana, wife of the Ephesus Antipholus; Erica Gerold is Adriana’s sister Luciana; along with Katie Freimann (Angelo), Lila Ashley Meyers (2^nd Merchant), Anna Behrmann (The Duke), Hayley Berketa (Aegeon), and Molly Feisher (Amelia/Dr. Pinch/1^st merchant).