photo ©Gerry Goodstein
Jack Moran as Dromio of Syracuse and Matthew Simpson as Antipholes of Syracuse celebrate their arrival in Ephesus.
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Each year, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey gives a gift to families who want to introduce their loved ones to Shakespeare.  On the Outdoor Stage is an annual event that brings families and friends together to enjoy a picnic, in many cases with a little wine and a use for beach chairs that leaves no sand in your shoes.  The performance reviewed took place on July 2.
The Greek Theatre on the beautiful, shady campus of the College of St. Elizabeth plays host to “The Comedy of Errors,” playing through July 29.  This play has been among Shakespeare’s most successful since it was first performed and is also one of the shortest.  It is long on slapstick and, when you have a band of clever actors under the direction of Jason King Jones, you have a masterful work that is fit for the queens and kings, princesses and princes who have Morris County at their feet.
Funny things tend to happen in multiples and when children happen that way, as in the case of Antipholus of Ephesus (Philip Mutz) and his long-lost identical twin brother Antipholus of Syracuse (Matthew Simpson), the fun is doubled.  Add to that, each man has a servant named Dromio (Sean Hudock and Jack Moran, respectively) who are also twin brothers, as both pairs were separated at birth by a tragedy at sea, just in case you think their parents have a George Foreman style of naming children. Their father Egeon (Matt Sullivan) is a merchant of Syracuse, who is persona non grata in Ephesus and, as the Duke (Phillip Christian) prepares to mete out Justice, Egeon tells the story of how he came to be in hostile territory.  Thence, the fun begins.
Antipholus of Ephesus is locked out of his home by his wife Adriana (Amanda Duffy), whom, upon seeing Antipholus of Syracuse, demands that he come home for dinner, and has whom she thinks is her hubby at home.  A. Syracuse, however, falls hard for Adriana’s sister Luciana (Allison Layman), adding yet another layer of confusion for the cast and another billowing layer of enjoyment for the audience.  The antics of the Antipholi and the Dromios are well worth the price of admission and when the seer Balthazar “reanimates” the dead, it is truly something to see!
Charlie Calvert’s set is a furnished backdrop of postcard views … ironic when you consider that visitors to Ephesus from Syracuse are executed–hardly the way tourism is encouraged.  Nancy Leary’s costumes are charming with the Antipholuses favoring floor length jackets and Dromios affecting Charlie Chaplin-esque tailoring, the connection between twins is further seen.  I am an identical twin myself and can attest to how frequently taste develops independently of frequent contact.  The merriment that ensues, however, makes me wonder how frequently people really ‘look’ at their loved ones, since there are subtle differences among the four men in question, but then, people and objects that look 99.44% alike often appear exactly the same, until their differences are known.
This production includes a great deal of slapstick humor and broadly performed silliness.  The target audience is people who might not ordinarily be able to encourage their family to come to Shakespeare and the comfortable atmosphere, people sharing food, laughter, and Shakespeare under the stars, is truly a head combination.  Rachel A. Miner’s lighting design casts a warm vintage glow almost as of memory and the cleverness of Calvert’s set pieces, like the rocking boat, make the experience very present and memorable.
Tickets are still available for performances through July 29, so give your grads an evening to remember.  Rather than more “stuff,” give the stuff of which future memories are made–brush up your Shakespeare and experience “The Comedy of Errors” with those you love.  Call the box office now at 908/408.5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org to make your plans.