Reviews

Most of we drama lovers are so in awe of William Shakespeare that we tend to forget that not every play is a masterpiece. Indeed, some of them are downright clunky, full of plot holes, awful exposition and are as subtle as an episode of “Mrs Brown’s Boys”.  The Comedy of Errors is one such play, written early in Will’s career as a crowdpleaser for the masses. The plot may have been new 500 years ago, but now the story of mistaken identity and separated twins, of coincidence and convenience, is just overworked.

Here’s a fine, sparky 2011 Broadway play that has slipped through the STC/MTC net and been snaffled by an alert Ensemble programming team. Theresa Rebeck’s fizzing dialogue keeps the audience alert throughout a 100-minute discussion on writers and the modern novel.

Set and direction are first rate, and the excellent 5-actor ensemble shows the Ensemble at its best. Up very close and personal, these actors give tense, truthful, often very funny performances, revelling in the crisp New York exchanges, plot twists and character surprises.

From the moment this play opens - fittingly with a storm, this is a captivating, beautifully realised production lovingly retells Colin Thiele's children's novel, for audiences of any age.

This first collaboration between Barking Gecko Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company is a worthy one - with Barking Gecko's artistic director at the directive helm of this stunning play.

The set - evocative of a whale skeleton, cliff top, sand dune and wave is a beautiful canvas for this production, an earthy organic design by Michael Scott-Mitchell.

Sasha is left in the dark when her brother walks off. As she hunts him down she meets several characters – are they manifestations of the brother, or herself? Is this reality or subconscious?

This production is visually outstanding. The first eerie lighting change from house lights draws us onstage through the drifting haze to reveal a park at night with real trees and grass. The actors are side lit throughout most of the performance and this works beautifully, with the actors never missing their marks.