THEATRE REVIEW: The Comedy Of Errors (More Or Less) - The Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot, Merseyside.

This was my first ever visit to what is the newest theatre in the North West. The Playhouse is a beautifully designed building, with a stunning circular auditorium, very much modelled on the original Cockpit-in-court theatre in London. There are a good number of seats, offering different perspectives on shows which are performed here. Thank you to the staff for their assistance and welcome.

The Comedy of Errors is one of the main Shakespearean farces, awash with confusion and merriment throughout, and undoubtedly, on this aspect, the nine actors worked with passion and energy and delivered the required pace. However, it was clear from the outset, even if you didn’t get a chance to read the programme beforehand, why the production was called ‘more or less’.

It must be borne in mind that the adaptation by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane is a major adaptation with many of the original elements removed or amended significantly. They themselves actually describe what they have done as having ‘messed around' with the piece. I saw the original many years ago, and unfortunately, much of the subtlety and impact of the play was lost, although the slapstick nature and unfettered chaos was very much on show. There was a little too much repetition for my liking with lots of references to fish and chips, but that’s a minor criticism.

As a big fan of 1980s music, I was delighted to see it staged in that era and classic songs from that iconic period were interwoven into the action. These tunes were performed live, so it meant that actors needed to be mic'd up but there were sound issues at times. My friend and I both struggled to hear some of the lyrics, albeit each song was performed with gusto.

Five of the actors took on other roles, such as providing chorus backing for the musical numbers, and these were all handled with aplomb. There is a particularly memorable cameo from a female wrestler!

I definitely must give credit to the costume and props designers, the highlight undoubtedly being an extraordinary ice-cream-based outfit! I also liked the idea of setting the action in Yorkshire where Prescot born Antipholus (David Kirkbride) and trusty sidekick Dromio (Oliver Mawdsley) arrive in Scarborough to perform his one-man show. Sadly, only two people have bought tickets as everyone else has booked for a talent show on the other side of town where his twin brother (also called Antipholus, played by Peter Kirkbride) is starring. To add to the confusion, he has an assistant named Dromio (Zach Mawdsley)! As we later find out, the twins have never met. Both look so alike that it is unsurprising that people mistake them for each other.

Despite his success, the second twin brother owes money to some unsavoury characters and is in a lot of trouble. His woes are compounded by the fact he has promised to buy a gold chain for his wife Adriana (Alyce Liburd), who expects her husband to keep her in the lifestyle she’s become accustomed to. Prescot Antipholus quickly falls for Adriana’s unmarried sister, Luciana (Ida Regan). There is also a courtesan (Valerie Antwi) waiting in the wings, so it’s down to the twins’ mother (Claire Eden) to resolve the ensuing confusion. Sadly, for them and her, she is arrested by the Duke (Andy Cryer), and he promptly slaps her in jail at the beginning of the show! From there, things just get increasingly crazy.

Reviewer - David Swift
on - 7.3.23