LA COMEDIA DE THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Full disclosure, I don’t speak Spanish. Oh, I’ve picked up a few phrases over the years and still remember a bit of what Mr. Sanchez taught us in high school but for all intents and purposes, I am not bilingual. Luckily, that proved to not be much of a problem while viewing The Public Theater Mobile Unit’s new bilingual, outdoor, musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors, now touring the five boroughs thru May 21 and returning to The Public May 25 – June 11. This streamlined, high-energy, colorful and entertaining adaptation plays about 50% in English and 50% in Spanish. And the experience of having the primacy of the English language immediately challenged in this raucous re-telling makes us English-only speakers more present for the story, if also a bit off-balance initially, which is a good thing. A very talented cast, colorful design, some wonderful new songs and a complementary blending of the two languages offers a fun, frothy, toe-tapping, head-bobbing summer entertainment.
Desireé Rodriguez
The company
The 90-minute script adaptation by writers Rebecca Martínez and Julián Mesri puts the emphasis on the comedy but does lose some of the actual storytelling. But that’s okay, because the show is more like Comedy of Errors – the Highlights and we do get well-acted, key scenes from the play. Interspersed within these scenes are contemporary re-caps that kind of fill in the overall story along with some really amazing songs, also by Mesri (music, co-lyricist) and Martínez (co-lyricist). Whether performing in English or Spanish (translation by Mesri), the show maintains a sense of cohesive forward motion, though sometimes communicated as much by feelings as by words. What’s cool is that the emotional states of the characters come through very clearly, even when not understanding what they are saying or singing. This device gives permission to the audience to let go of expectation and just go on a ride through one Shakespeare’s more popular comedies, joyously viewed through a very Latine lens.
Gían Pérez, Michael Castillejos, and Joél Acosta
The company
The basic plot of the play is still intact. Egeon, a widowed merchant from Syracuse searching for his lost son (one of twins both named Antipholus) enters Ephesus, a city that is rival to his Syracuse. Since anyone from Syracuse is forbidden to enter Ephesus and vice versa, Egeon is sentenced to death (of course). However, after hearing his woeful family tale, the Ephesian Duke is moved and grants Egeon one day to raise the ransom money that would spare his life. Unknown to Egeon, his long lost twin son does live in Ephesus with his wife, Adriana, and a servant named Dromio. Dromio also has a twin brother, also named Dromio, who works for the other Antipholus. Of course, neither twin has any knowledge of the other twin’s whereabouts or life. That is until the Antipholus and Dromio from Syracuse also land in Ephesus and are mistaken for the Antipholus and Dromio from Ephesus. Comedy and mistaken identities ensue — now involving a wife, sister-in-law, cook, hooker, goldsmith and a nun. Yet they all end up living happily ever after.
The company
Desireé Rodriguez, Gían Pérez, and Joél Acosta
With a plot this convoluted there’s something about only understanding about half of the text that makes it easier to enter a world full of amusing switcheroos, particularly a world created by a cast as powerfully talented as this one. Danaya Esperanza almost steals the show with her over-the-top but deeply felt portrayal of doubting wife Adriana. Also possessing a powerful singing voice, Ms. Esperanza can go from farcical comedy to realistic feeling in an instant and is quite impressive overall. The handsome Joél Acosta is equally intimidating and charming in his portrayals of both brothers Antipholus. Likewise, Gían Pérez, a very good actor, is both clownish and moving in his earnest portrayals of the brothers Dromio. And the wonderful Glendaliris Torres-Greaux delivers a musical performance in her first moments as Angelo that is a showstopper for sure. As director, Martínez’s staging can be surprisingly stodgy, especially considering the sense of fun and surprise that underscores most of her effort and choreography. Also, her device for simultaneously presenting the twins is a great idea but still needs work. Costumes by Lux Haac are colorful and mesh well with this concept, especially his look for the hilarious Dr. Pinch.
Gían Pérez, Keren Lugo, and Danaya Esperanza
Joél Acosta (foreground) and the company
Taking Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors as its starting point, the Public Theater’s Mobile Unit has created a fast-moving, entertaining show that will surely do well in its tour of the five boroughs of New York City. More than just giving Shakespeare a south-of-the border topcoat, the show’s creatives have deeply rooted this adaptation in Latine culture, perspectives and humanity, offering an appealing authenticity throughout. And that’s no error.
Gían Pérez
The cast also includes Varín Ayala, Michael Castillejos, Rebecca Jimenez, Keren Lugo, Alan Mendez, Sara Ornelas and Desireé Rodriguez. Music Director Jacinta Clusellas, Assistant Music Director Simon Broucke, and the musicians are Michael Castillejos, Jacinta Clusellas, Sara Ornelas (guitar), Raphael Torn (percussion) and Renato Thoms (sub percussion).
Danaya Esperanza
photos by Peter Cooper
Joél Acosta
The Comedy of Errors
The Public Theater | Free Shakespeare in the Park | Mobile Unit
reviewed at the NY Public Library and Bryant Park (Fifth Avenue Terrace in Manhattan)
ends on June 30, 2024
details, including performance times and how to RSVP, visit Public Theater
for a map of all locations, visit Google Maps.
Sara Ornelas
now thru June 2 – NY Public Library/Bryant Park (Manhattan)
June 4 – Wolfe’s Pond Park (Staten Island)
June 5 – J. Hood Wright Park (Manhattan)
June 6-9 – Hudson Yards (Manhattan)
June 11 – Roy Wilkins Park (Queens)
June 12 – A.R.R.O.W. Field House (Queens)
June 13-14 – Hudson Yards (Manhattan)
June 15 – A.R.R.O.W. Field House (Queens)
June 16 – St. John the Divine (Manhattan)
June 18 – Sunset Park (Brooklyn)
June 19 – Travers Park (Queens)
June 20-21 – Hudson Yards (Manhattan)
June 22 – Maria Hernandez Park (Brooklyn)
June 23 – Astor Place (Manhattan)
June 25-26 – St. Mary’s Park (Bronx)
June 27-29 – The Peninsula at Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
June 30 – St. John the Divine (Manhattan)
