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The Comedy of Errors

 
Richard Beck Review by Richard Beck 4 Published: 26 Jan 2026 ADC Theatre Show Dates: 20 Jan 2026-24 Jan 2026

Cambridge University’s European Theatre Group, under the direction of James Allen, delivers The Comedy of Errors with pace, humour and physicality at the ADC Theatre.

Grasped the comedic aspect of this minor Shakespearean work and have turned it into fun-filled entertainment

The production was devised for performance not just locally, but also on tour in several European cities to audiences that include children listening to an archaic version of a foreign language. The Theatre Group's desire to preserve authenticity combined with accessibility is well met in this two-act version.

For clarity, a modern preamble explains the problem of finding two pairs of identical twins, which is overcome by costume coding. Give one pair matching T-shirts and the other bright yellow sou’westers and all becomes clear. Additionally, explain that a shortage of actors means that one part will be played by a seagull puppet, while others double up parts by a change of hat or by wearing a mask, and you have a comic introduction that sets the tone for what follows. This, and the ensuing action, witnesses the ingenuity and imagination that Allen has given to this production.

All playwrights have to begin somewhere and the consensus for Shakespeare is that The Comedy of Errors was among his first works. Dare one say that it shows? Notwithstanding, it is not without its admirers. The renowned critic Harold Bloom maintained that it “reveals Shakespeare's magnificence at the art of comedy” and shows “such skill, indeed mastery, in action, incipient character, and stagecraft, that it far outshines the three Henry VI plays and the rather lame comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” Humour has clearly changed over the years, but there is plenty of fun to be had in it. The story was taken from Plautus and is rare in its adherence to the classical unities of time, place and action, giving it an inherent focus across the board.

The set reflects the simplicity of this production. Two trestle ladders of different heights are arranged asymmetrically, one labelled ‘The Phoenix’, where Antipholus of Ephesus lives with his wife, Adriana, and the other, ‘Porpentine’, where Antipholus of Syracuse is meant to dine and to where the gold chain is delivered. Entrances and exits are frequently made under the ladders’ arches, and this adds to the element of superstition in the play.

The ensemble cast are full of energy and enthusiasm but, as might be expected from a university society production, they comprise a mixed bag of talent. While they each have their commendable qualities, special mention has to go to the former National Youth Theatre member (Rob) Marques Monteiro for a commandingly idiosyncratic performance as Antipholus of Syracuse, full of measured pauses, artful gestures and mesmerising eye contact.

Overall, Allen and the company have grasped the comedic aspect of this minor Shakespearean work and have turned it into fun-filled entertainment. Good job done.

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The Blurb:

The Comedy of Errors is a full-blown farce, set in the mysterious and enchanting coastal town of Ephesus; it chronicles the story of two sets of twins, separated when young, who cause mayhem when they find themselves in the same city many years later. Following the end of their tour, the European Theatre Group return to Cambridge with their electrifying staging of Shakespeare's silly comedy. With energetic costumes, thrilling fights and troublesome seagulls, come and share in the delight of one of Shakespeare's most bizarre and hilarious plays.