After a decades long hiatus of not producing Shakespeare, the Duluth Playhouse’s The Comedy of Errors, with director Sean Ryan Naugton’s inventive staging and his wildly talented cast, brought the Bard back to preposterous heights at the Norshor.
The play is one of Shakespeare’s wildest and most raucous shows in the canon. It seems that the cast would lose weight with every rehearsal and performance, running up and down stairs and all around the stage, chasing each other, and picking up and slinging people over their shoulders had to be exhausting.
The pacing of the show’s dialogue was also somewhat dizzying. At times, with some of the dialogue delivered so quickly, the non-English majors in the crowd may have missed some of the more obscure references. The show, however, is so reliant on zany slapstick, the audience was having such a great time even though they may not have understood every line.
Much of the humor is derived when two sets of identical twins separated at a young age, James Alexander Rankin (Antipholus of Syracuse), Phillip Hoelscher (Dromio of Syracuse), Matthew Olsen (Antipholus of Ephesus), and Hunter Ramsden (Dromio of Ephesus).
As you would imagine, when the twins are in the same town at the same time, shenanigans ensue.
Ramsden and Hoelscher are a comic delight as the clownish buffoons whose slapstick, gestures, facial expressions, and timing are impeccable.
As the Antipholus twins, James Alexander Rankin and Matthew Olsen convincingly played their confusion at not knowing why other characters accuse them of things they have not done. Their physical humor is also on point.
Alyson Enderle (Adriana), is the baffled, angry, and absurdly pregnant wife of Antipholus. whose trouble even trying to get up is hysterical. Enderle is also most proficient at iambic pentameter in the cast.
Jess Hughes (Luciana), Adriana’s unmarried sister, unwittingly falls in love with her sister’s husband, Antipholus of Ephesus. Hughes is great in her comic moments and sympathetic in her sweet moments.
The terrific 10-member ensemble are asked to play multiple characters, sing and dance, and, of course, speak in iambic pentameter.
Some of the strongest aspects of this production are from the design team: Jeff Brown (Scenic/Lighting Designer), Teddy McMahon (Costume Designer), Travis Lee (Sound Designer), Will Menke (Stage Manager), and April Ellingsen (Props Designer).
It is this former English teacher who hopes that the Playhouse will not wait so long to produce another Shakespeare play. “Hie thee” to buy your tickets today!
More Information on A Comedy of Errors
By William Shakespeare
Norshor Theater at 211 E Superior St. Duluth, MN
Remaining Show Dates:
Thursday, June 4, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 5, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 6, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 7, 2:00 p.m.
Box office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
On show dates, the Box Office opens at 5:30 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. for matinees.
For tickets visit destinationduluth.co/dp-the-comedy-of-errors
Full-time students with a valid student ID can get a $25 ticket to any Playhouse Main Stage production. Student Rush tickets go on sale at the Box Office 30 minutes prior to performances and can be accessed by showing a valid student ID when purchasing in person. Tickets are sold to patrons on a first-come, first-served basis.
Seniors (65+) can save $2 per ticket. Senior Discount Tickets can be purchased in person from the NorShor box office or over the phone in advance at (218) 733-7555.
