Still Laughing After NMU Show “The Comedy of Errors”

Shakespeare made accessible and enjoyable for all!

Cast members of the NMU James Panowski Black Box Theature production “The Comedy of Errors” perform during a dress rehearsal in Marquette, MI. (photo courtesy of Forest Roberts

 Marquette, MI – Martyn Martello is still laughing after NMU show “The Comedy of Errors” as he shares a short synapsis of their most recent production playing this week and next at the Black Box Theatre in Marquette, MI.

Before I start my own review of “The Comedy of Errors” at the James Panowski Black Box Theatre at NMU, my back and my backside have a few words to say… “The new theater style seats in the Black Box are a wonderful addition to the experience in the Black Box. Long overdue, these seats are probably even more comfortable than the seats in the Forest Roberts. Bravo!”

Now that my back and butt have had their say, on to the show. Paul Truckey has done a great job of condensing this show into a fast paced, faced moving comedy that is very accessible to even the most ardent haters of Shakespeare. Rather than the 2 ½ to 3 hour run time that most modern audiences object to, this production flies by in a scant 90 minutes. Rather than applauding yourself for having made it through the show, you find yourself almost wanting a little more. The script has been thoughtfully trimmed without losing any of the fun or meaning in Willy’s original play. Well done.

I won’t bore the reader with a synopsis of the show beyond relating that this is a tale of two sets of twin brothers, separated by a shipwreck years ago, brought together at last…after many cases of mistaken identity and other mayhem. There are many good sources online to check out the basics. What I will say is that the strong cast plays well within the madcap world that spins out of control on this stage. It is quite obvious the fun that they are having as they tell this tale.

There are many strong performances in this show. Jess Morrow and Dorsey Sprouls, as the twin servants, Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse, are an absolute hoot to watch. The servants repeatedly are ordered about by their twin masters, given differing tasks, and returning to the other twin only to find that they have not performed what that master has asked. They are batted about like shuttlecocks on a badminton court, getting more and more convinced that their master has gone mad as the play goes on. The twin masters, Antipholus of Ephesus and Syracuse, are masterfully portrayed by James Porras II and John Scheibe. Their frustration as they are locked out of their homes, locked up by the guards, having their orders seemingly not carried out by their servants builds and builds. John in particular seems to have immersed himself in the role of the stranger in a new land. Both deliver fine performances.

Adriana, the wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, and her sister Luciana are played by the always strong Alexandra Marks and the delightful Alycia Heckathorn. Alexandra nails every role she is given and this is no exception. I always look forward to seeing her onstage. Alycia plays the ever drunker sister and is crazy good fun to watch. How she managed to choreograph and perform in “An American in Paris” and shine in this role at the same time is beyond me—the gift of youth, I suppose. Chet DeFonso plays Aegeon, the father of the twin Antipholus and delivers, in my view, probably the best performance of his long career on the local stage. I would be remiss if I didn’t point out Donavan Chambers’ great turn as Bathazar or Shane Vincent’s strong performance as Duke Solinus. And Sam Arsenault’s physicals as the 1^st merchant are something to behold.

The Black Box was set up with the seats on either side of the “stage”, with all the action taking place in the middle, stretching from one end of the room to the other. The players were up close and personal with the audience, interacting with them occasionally and drawing you further into the play. Interesting staging well used. The sets, designed by Victor Holliday were fanciful, functional and fun. Ansley Valentine handled the costume design and it was fun and colorful.

All in all, a great time. Shakespeare made accessible and enjoyable for all. I wholeheartedly recommend getting one of the rapidly disappearing tickets for the shows this week or next. You will not regret it. Tickets and other information about the show are available at www.nmu.edu/tickets or by visiting the Forest Roberts box office or the Superior Dome.

by Martyn Martello

I do a little of this, a little of that. I've been kicking around the local theater scene for the past 15 years or so. I do technical work, scenic design, direct, and occasionally take to the stage. I co-own a local business and have been in Marquette over 30 years, And, sometimes, I take my quill pen out and scratch out a word or two.

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