The Comedy of Errors is a comedic play written by William Shakespeare. It portrays mistaken identity, word play, and slapstick with plenty of puns. The plot follows a set of twins who are separated at birth and must deal with wrongful accusations, deceased family members and comic situations.
Starting April 11, the theater department at Case Western Reserve University will be performing The Comedy of Errors, highlighting the humor of Shakespeare and the talents of CWRU students. We reached out to six members of the production to learn more about their experiences and what audiences could expect from their performances.
We sat down with Ian Jacobs (Egeon), Mariah Hamburg (choreographer), Kashmere Shafik (Adriana), Ave Tallarida (Officer/Soldier), Gryffin Hauenstein (1st merchant/doctor/nurse) and Claire Carducci (Duchess Solinus) to get their insights into the production.
Could you describe your experience in preparing for The Comedy of Errors?
Jacobs (cognitive science major with minors in marketing and theater): “The age of the material results in much of the terminology being lost or taking on new meanings.As an actor, it’s fun finding unique ways to clearly communicate the story in a way modern audiences will understand.”
Hamburg (CWRU ‘23, theater): “Trying to coordinate seventeen different actors on stage can be a bit daunting, but I was able to incorporate styles of hip-hop and jazz to create a remarkable effect on stage.”
What have you enjoyed the most about the play?
Shafik (psychology and theater major): “The Comedy of Errors is so goofy and beyond eccentric. The themes of chaos throughout the entire play are the best parts.”
Tallarida (psychology, cognitive science and theater major): “Shakespeare is not an easy feat, and the specificity of the language can be challenging. However, it clicked after a few times.”
“I really appreciate how much fun and playfulness our director, Professor Jeffrey Ullom, allows us all to have.”
What can audiences look forward to when watching the performance?
Hauenstein (history and acting major): “The costuming, lighting and set all just work together to make a really unique experience of Shakespeare set in the 1970s and 80s. There is a surprising amount of dancing for Shakespeare, and even Star Wars, which audiences might not expect.”
Carducci (psychology and theater major): “The Comedy of Errors is unlike anything the theater department has done in the past. In a world that is kind of crazy right now, it can be entertaining to enjoy a show that is for pure amusement.”
See these actors in action this weekend!
The Comedy of Errors will be playing in the Roe Green Theater at the Maltz Performing Arts Center starting Friday, April 11, through Sunday, April 20. Purchase tickets and see more of their upcoming performances.