Review: 'The Comedy of Errors' at Hartford Stage

“...ultimately, it’s a wonderfully democratic and inclusive play. There is a place at the table for everyone.” - Darko Tresnjak, director of ‘The Comedy of Errors’ at Hartford Stage

Hartford, CT - Hartford Stage has made it part of their mandate to produce Shakespeare annually, a mission that is both ambitious and not inexpensive. To me, this is a goal that more theatre companies should strive to attain. Audiences, especially young patrons, need more opportunities to attend affordable and high quality productions of the works of the Bard. It was the norm when I was in high school in Stratford to attend at least one Shakespeare play every year at the American Shakespeare Theatre and no one misses this theater more than me. Thus began my appreciation for the works of William Shakespeare and I try not to miss any chance to see a local production.

This production is set in the mid-sixties inspired by the Greek film ‘Never on Sunday’ as well as early Bollywood and the combination works beautifully. The 22 cast members, in outstanding costumes designed by Fabio Toblini, perfectly match the decade and the set designed by Mr. Tresnjak is a work of (Greek) art. Paula Leggett Chase as the courtesan opens the play with a sexy rendition of “Never on a Sunday” accompanied by two onstage musicians. The director has also added a spectacular production number a la Bollywood that brought down the house. I loved the addition of the music and dancing, but I still will go on record that this production will be on my list of top ten plays for this year.

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The ninety minutes without intermission move nimbly with lots of laughs along the way. The broad comic touches make the action much easier to follow; the original language is there in all of its glory, but even the most Shakespeare phobic can manage to understand the complicated plot without having to concentrate too hard. I hope that the high school students I saw attending the matinee enjoyed it as much as I (and the rest of the matinee audience) did.

‘The Comedy of Errors’ runs through Feb. 12 at Hartford Stage.

Photos by T. Charles Erickson.