The Comedy of Errors NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (15)
See it if You enjoy the works of the Bard done by a creative team
Don't see it if you hate shakespeare
See it if Shakespeare's most famous and most physical comedy gets a workout with 90+ degree summer temps. ANY production of this farce is worth a look
Don't see it if Skip if U find "physical comedy" boring. Convoluted story-line may be hard to follow for 1st-timers so if U aren't into reading it then skip
See it if you enjoy Shakespeare, comedy or both. There's a lot of things happening so you need to be attentive to the different storylines.
Don't see it if you have a hard time following different storylines and/or Shakespearian language.
See it if you support The Public's outreach initiatives and want to see a relatable, streamlined Shakespearean farce that will keep you laughing.
Don't see it if you want a robust production with period costumes and elaborate sets. This one is meant to be portable and play in non-traditional venues.
See it if You enjoy reimagined shows with modern twists
Don't see it if You do not like classic shows to be changed in any way
See it if you're a Shakespeare fan
Don't see it if you're looking for an elaborate production
See it if You like the old tale about mistaken identities.
Don't see it if You don't like the circus.
See it if You like plays that have an interesting story that needs a little bit of attention to follow.
Don't see it if You are confused by Shakespeare, or don't pay attention in plays.
Critic Reviews (10)
"Contemporary flourishes are never allowed to obstruct the unimpeded forward movement of a comedy built for speed, or the larger theme of identities lost and found…The bawdy puns, the elaborate explication of intricate back stories: These familiar staples of any 'Comedy of Errors' are rendered here with clarifying physical and musical annotations. What’s more surprising is how moving the production becomes when the play’s titular errors begin to correct themselves."
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"The performances vary in quality, and the comedic bits occasionally become too exaggerated, but its rough, rowdy and youthful tone is a testament to the accessibility promoted by this worthy enterprise."
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"Simultaneously urgent and irreverent new production…Under Kwei-Armah's limber and unpretentious direction, the contrivance of the plot really works…By setting 'The Comedy of Errors' on the U.S.-Mexican border, Kwei-Armah brings the themes of this 421-year-old play into stark relief: political boundaries and regional disparity are still with us."
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"This is a production that, like the play itself, just wants to have fun, and actually couldn't care less about the world outside its crazy boundaries.…There's not much in the way of deep feelings afoot, but the stakes are high enough that you (like the characters) remain invested…Aside from the immigration concept, director Kwame Kwei-Armah applies at best a light imprint that emphasizes the improbable, even improvisatory, nature of the whole thing."
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"The Dromios (played to both great comic effect by Lucas Caleb Rooney) and the Antipholi (Bernardo Cubría) are indicated by different hat styles (one rancher, one baseball cap) and feature vastly different personalities. The two twins do a remarkable job, especially at the climax, of jumping back and forth between the characters by holding a hat over an empty space and speaking directly to it."
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"'Comedy of Errors' is an indestructible dramatic vehicle...Though this scaled-down production is less ambitious than the Public's 'Comedy' in Central Park in 2013, it shares the same buoyancy of that al fresco outing.The acting here is sassy and smart...What makes this production hum beyond the able acting, is the swimmingly good direction. Kwame Kwei-Armah does wonders with the recognition scene of Act 5."
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"I was struck with the notion of sending this slender company to Oregon where the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has commissioned thirty-six playwrights to translate Shakespeare’s plays into modern English. No need; these guys have nailed it. Nothing’s lost in translation here…The thing is, this is fun. It is lively and joyous. It is one of those uncommon experiences in theater when the joke is absurd and we are all delighted to be in on the joke. Just go."
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"What distinguishes this production most of all is the outsized enthusiasm of the seven-member cast…Together, the actors make it their mission to engage as many individual members of the audience as they can…This must have gone over great in the prisons and shelters full of ignored and neglected people. At the Public itself, with its sophisticated theater-going crowd, it goes over great as well."
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