This complicated farce by Italian writer Carlo Goldini was written in 1747 and is regarded as one of the great comedies of Italian theatre. Here its presented in modern dress (of sorts) by the effervescent pupils from Berhamstead School. The style of the piece is based on the highly stylised techniques of Comedia del Arte, as are many of the characters. The opening sequence (which sees the entire cast peering at issues of that esteemed Venetian publication Broadway Baby Offline) is ingenious, and makes much of the fact that what we are going to see is narratively complicated beyond belief.I wont go into the many twists and turns of the crazy plot. Suffice is to say it involves two twins, separated at birth, who both end up as young men in Venice. Cue mayhem, as the wrong girls get wooed, the wrong people get poisoned and jewels and money fall into the wrong hands. There is a compelling energy about the production, the stage never being left empty for a moment, and scene changes carried out in comic style to music. The acting, however, is patchy. The production is blessed with two real life brothers (twins?) in Charles and James Holroyd, who bring considerable skill and buffoonery in true Comedia style to their portrayals of Tonino and Zanetto. So similar looking are these two that for half the play I was marvelling at how the one actor I thought was playing both parts was managing to make the costume changes and adjustments to character traits so quickly! Ellie Chiang is the pick of the women as Columbina. Elsewhere these young performers often lack the discipline to make some of the excellent direction by Steph Gunary work properly. Its not their fault, they are young and experienced, and some of the Comedia conventions require highly trained professionals. The exception to this is Sid Sagars Pancrazio. This is a difficult part, the old lecher bent on seducing and ravaging the girl. For an actor as young as Sagar to pull it off convincingly (and very, very funnily) is a feat indeed.In the end all is resolved happily (except for poor old Pergarmo). The play is based on the Roman writer Plautuss Menaechmi, which was also a source for Shakespeares Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night. Both are, in my opinion. superior to this piece, but this young troupe present a rare opportunity to see the Italian version, and do pretty good job of it.
