A Utah Theater Review by Jennifer Mustoe, Caden Mustoe, and Tyrone Svedin
“Most people don’t realize how amazing Shakespeare can be. For most, he is words on a page of some dusty old textbook. Grassroots Shakespeare Company brings Shakespeare to life – amazing, hilarious life.”
~Caden Mustoe, age 16, Front Row Reviewers Utah Reviewer
I am beginning my review of Grassroots Shakespeare Company’s The Comedy of Errors with a big THANK YOU. Why am I thanking GSC? Because of them I. Get. Shakespeare! I have gotten two C’s in my high school and college careers. In what classes, you may ask? Same subject, each time. You guessed it: Shakespeare. I’d read those tired old plays, and the iambic pentameter and the jokes that were probably completely understood back in the day would begin to swim on the page and I’d end up with a C on each test. Fie on Shakespeare was my unholy cry.
But now, with GSC, I repeat – I. Get. Shakespeare!
Last night, my son Caden and an actor friend and fellow FRRU Reviewer, Tyrone Svedin accompanied me to a rollicking performance of The Comedy of Errors, played on top of the Provo Center’s parking garage, across from Sammy’s. GSC usually chooses fun venues for their shows and this was no exception. Tyrone Facebooked me today and used the word “fun” three times in his comments about the show. It was fun. No doubt about that!
There is really no way to fully describe a GSC Shakespearean play. I’ve seen both comedies (last night’s and last summer I was blessed to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and a tragedy (Hamlet – a brilliant tragedy that left me filled with such exquisite sadness, I am going to try to go see it again when it plays again, along with Richard III for Halloween.)
You see, GSC tries very hard to re-enact Shakespeare’s work as the bard produced and performed his works centuries ago. As such, the troupe has little rehearsal time, lots of music and physicality, both comedy and tragic, and double entendre.
Specifically, in The Comedy of Errors, the show is this: two sets of twins, one the privileged sons of a merchant and his wife, and two slaves purchased to attend the privileged pair, are shipwrecked and the twins are split – one rich kid and one slave end up with one another. How do I know this? Because there is an introduction, and even though it’s wordy and a little difficult to understand (owing to my Shakespeare brain stupor) the actor performing the introduction was so animated and clear, I. Got. It! (Fist bump) Lots of chaos and hilarity, and amazingly animated physical humor, ensue when both sets of twins end up in the same town.
The actors playing the two sets of twins in the show were not identical, as they were supposed to be, but they not only wore similar clothing but had similar mannerisms, and I was able to believe that there could be real confusion.
The stage is a bunch of barrels with a stage on top of it, two tall ladders on each side (that actors often climb when they are trying to show they are escaping, for whatever reason), some curtains and that’s it. Very simple. Before the show, the troupe members play music and sing. During the show, music is played and I detected several Star Wars pieces. Nothing says The Comedy of Errors, which is set in Ephesus, like Star Wars Main Title and Imperial March. Costumes are a mixture of corsets and frilly shirts and high tops and leggings.
The show speeds along, a cacophony of sounds, sights, gags, puns, physical comedy, and if there’s a dropped line, I never knew it. It’s thrilling, hilarious, and completely understandable. This is how Shakespeare should be done!
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Ever since I saw GSC perform in the summer, I’ve been a huge fan and am constantly trying to get more of my friends – actors and patrons alike, to come see their shows. They are cheap and completely worth it. I see a lot of shows, and this is one company that never fails to supply the best there is in theater. I mean this sincerely.
Cast: William Kalmar as Angelo and the Duke of Solinus
Jack Kyle Oram as Dromio of Syracuse
Anne Thomas as Luciana
Tyler Groesbeck as Antipholus Syracuse
Erin Wright as Abbess and Courtesan
Nick Grossaint as Dromio of Ephesus
Tyler Harris as Aegeon
Jordan Kramer as Antipholus of Ephesus
Emily Griffith as Adriana
Do yourself a favor and go see Grassroots Shakespeare Company as soon as you can. You will LOVE IT. And you will GET IT. I guarantee it! (There are only three more shows of The Comedy of Errors. Don’t delay! Go and grab all your friends to go! You will have a great time! Sept. 10th, 14th, and 15th. Click on purchase tickets on their site for more info.)
One more thing: GSC would love it if you LIKE them on Facebook, so here’s the link right here.
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