Co-directed by Sean Holmes and Naeem Hayat, The Globe brings Shakespeare’s wild comedy alive in this crazy, funny, and engaging production. Comedy of Errors tells the story of two rival cities, long-lost siblings, and a confusion of identities; two sets of identical twins confuse their separated family with their mistaken identity into thinking they are the other twin, when neither realise they even have a twin. What could be a confusing play turns out to be a hilariously brilliant one, in the cleverness of the slapstick comedy and how over-the-top the mistaken identity becomes, it doesn’t take long to understand what is going on in the plot.
At the beginning of the play, there is live music, chanting and waving flags, a dramatic entrance of various characters on the stage, and a wooden boat drifting through the standing audience. Our eyes are unsure where to look first. From the beginning, the directors clearly want us to know that this is a play of humour, confusion, and craziness. The addition of the boats driving through the audience makes the stage feel like a port, and the wooden plank off the stage is a great element for the actors to engage with the audience and to also use it for character monologues, such as near the beginning. The beginning was hard to understand but once the story developed and it was clearer, the play became witty and exciting.
Various slapstick fighting scenes added to the drama and kept the audience engaged, as well as puns and wordplay that could still be found funny in 2024. Comedy was enriched throughout which kept the audience laughing and also invited the audience to be involved. The actors would nod their heads to the audience and say ‘The people here saw it’, and at one moment they were discussing baldness and men and would ridicule various bald men in the audience by pointing at them after saying ‘bald’, much to the amusement of their partners/families. The two Dromio's (Martin Quinn and Sam Swann) were phenomenal in their acting and bringing the characters to life; their facial expressions, faultless speeches, and emphasis on certain pubs were exceptional. Gabrielle Brooks (who played Adriana) was also incredible in her role as a distressed and angry wife who was fed up with her husband’s alleged antics, with her facial expressions, and her humorous exaggerations that were brilliant to watch.
The set was simple but with the use of the boat moving through the audience, the wooden plank, the balcony, and the use of props, we were transported back in time to Elizabethan Shakespeare here at The Globe. The directors were genius in keeping the plot as hilarious, witty, and dramatic as it should be and didn’t attempt to modernise the play too much, compared to other productions I’ve seen. Comedy of Errors is a must-see this autumn at The Globe if you’re looking for a unique, witty, Shakespearean production.
It runs until 27 October.
Review: Cara Scott Photos: Marc Brenner