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Comedy of Errors

 



So I was supposed to review Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Comedy of Errors much earlier in its run but Covid in the cast led my ticked to be rescheduled for final weekend. Therefore I don't think anyone is counting on the awesome power of my words and the magnificent reach of my audience to sell a lot of tickets but here I am fulfilling my obligations anyway. If you happen to not know what you're doing the night of April 22nd or the afternoon of April 23rd you should be aware of your option to see this show which is not to say that I necessarily would.

The title is a bit misleading. Yes it's Shakespeare's early farce about two sets of identical twins separated at birth and lots of slammed doors, but it's mostly sharing the stage with a frame story set during the Blitz period of World War II. With London under attack the showbiz community is making a film adaptation of the play to raise a nation's spirits. "It's that damned Hitler! It's all his fault!" as one of the show's best lines puts it. These scenes, written by Ron West, aren't really a frame story but arguably the main story of the production. It's a well done screwball comedy, some people are getting divorced, some are past their prime, some are learning iambic pentameter for the first time, others have bad breath, others sing and dance. Stiff upper lip, never surrender, our finest hour, tip tip tally ho and all that.

It's undeniably fun but also rather self indulgent and it's near three hour running time earns little goodwill from me.

Still, as the valedictory production of legendary Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, some self indulgence has surely been earned. For that alone, this show will be long remembered in the annals of Chicago theatre history.

Thru - Apr 23rd, 2023

Price: $35-$92

Show Type: Comedy

Box Office: 312-595-5600

Running Time: 2hrs, 30mins

www.chicagoshakes.com

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