Shakespeare & Christina Anderson’s Madcap Update Shines

by Kim Waldron

“Comedy of Errors” is guaranteed fun; I laughed a lot.

It’s a Play on Shakespeare co-production—they’re the people who hire writers to go over a Shakespeare play line by line to change out-of-date terms to words we use today.  The modern writers faithfully keep the original rhyme and meter.

In “Comedy,” the slang is thoroughly modernized. I’m not sure if those changes come from Anderson’s script or are additions made by the actors and director. The slangy updates pop up just a few times, all in comedic situations, and, for reasons I do not begin to understand, “Get lost, applesauce” fits just fine.

The biggest surprise to me was that since “The Comedy of Errors” is playing on alternate nights with “Two Trains Running.” The Acting Company of New York is using the same set.   In this two-play run, August Wilson gets a set, and poor Shakespeare gets a modified black box.  Again, it works, but only because of the truly magnificent sound design by Lindsay Jones, wild and wonderful costumes by Sarita Fellows, and playful lighting by Jared Gooding.

This “Comedy of Errors” is a farce with plenty of physical comedy. The plot is convoluted, including a ticking clock and two sets of mistaken identities.  That wasn’t challenging enough for these actors. They play multiple parts, often changing roles as we watch.  In the final scene, one intrepid actor plays three roles at the same time. Lord knows I’ve seen character switches fail elsewhere, but here it not only works, it’s also hysterical.

The Acting Company provides these talented individuals. It’s hard to single out any one performance since I suspect parts are played by different actors each night.  Suffice it to say, the members of this repertory company have verve, precision, and energy. They deliver.

The opening lets us know we are in for something new. The first clue is that stagehand who wanders in with a copy of the script before the action starts. Then the lights go down.  Suddenly there’s a crash and actors break onto the stage, capering joyfully onto the “Two Trains Running” 60s diner set.  Soon, other actors romp in to join them, the script is found, roles are fought over, boxes of wild costumes appear and are inspected then selected, and then Bang!  Somehow, we are in ancient Ephesus. Shakespeare, with Christina Anderson’s help, takes over.

It’s one of Shakespeare’s shortest plays; this production runs ninety minutes with no intermission.  You’ll be home for bedtime on a school night, even taking the bus.

Shakespeare fans may have seen “Comedy” before and have no trouble following events. Happily, even if you’ve never seen the play, you won’t care if you don’t follow every detail of what’s happening. Just submit to the wild madness and enjoy the frolic. You deserve a respite from the real madness of the world outside.

“The Comedy of Errors” by William Shakespeare, modern verse translation by Christina Anderson, directed by Devin Brain, costumes by Sarita Fellows, sound & original music by Lindsay Jones, lighting by Jared Gooding, by The Acting Company, New York—at ACT, San Francisco.  Info: act-sf.org – to May 3, 2025.

Cast: J’Laney Allen, Michael J. Asberry, Chuckie Benson, Robert Cornelius, James Milord, Michael A. Shepperd, and DeAnna Supplee.

Banner photo: James Milord, DeAnna Supplee, and J’Laney Allen. Photos: Veronica Slavin