The Comedy of Errors

There are very few references to music in Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, but this hasn’t deterred director Matthew Parker from putting a musical twist on the play, with pop hits by Britney Spears, ABBA and Shawn Mendes making the cut.

He returns to the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival, having directed a Covid-secure take on Henry V last year, and continues the Maltings Theatre tradition of weaving live music into shows, with somewhat mixed results on this occasion.

Some of the numbers really work, with Luciana (Rosie Edwards) belting out the Britney classic Oops!... I Did It Again while playing with an inflated heart balloon following a romantic encounter with Antipholus of Syracuse (played charmingly by Lewis Jenkins). But after the interval, the songs are almost back-to-back, with the hits beginning to overshadow the play.

The two Dromios are strong – Sam Denia is weedy and jumpy, while Oliver Lynes plays the classic Shakespearean fool. Phoebe Marshall is also engaging as Antipholus of Ephesus’ hysterical wife Adriana, strutting, pouting, moaning and wailing across the stage. Her quick-fire explanation of events nearing the end is particularly impressive.

Transported from a Greek city to the declining British seaside, Simon Nicholas’ set captures the charm of the UK’s coastal towns, with clever touches such as inflatable guitars, fish bowls and even a Punch and Judy booth.

The production is not always as tight as it could be, but there is still much to enjoy.