This is in number of lines the shortest of Shakespeare's plays, but it is nonetheless particularly crowded with incident. The dramatist took most of his story from Plautus and observed the unities of time and place. Plausibility is out the window, with separated twin masters both named Antipholus having twin servants both named Dromio. There naturally result all sorts of complications arising from mistaken identity. Since the play is set in Ephesus, now part of Turkey, the production suggests the Middle East through its live music, dance, and turbaned costumes. As has been occasionally done in the past, here each pair of twins is played by a single actor.
Both players are Italian (the two Antipholuses acted by Vincenzo Nicoli, and the two Dromios by Marcello Magni), so there is a huge infusion from the Italian commedia dell'arte tradition. This entails a great deal of physical beating, augmented by a game of badminton played with plates and a duel fought not with swords but with chickens. Since the venue is the reconstructed Globe, with a pack of groundlings standing in front of the stage, there is considerable byplay with the audience, especially by Magni; and the bearded merchant Egeon (Robert Pickavance), condemned to death, makes his entrance through the standees wielding a staff that he proceeds to break in two.
The task of directing is shared by Kathryn Hunter (designated Master of Play), responsible for the blocking, and Tim Carroll (as Master of Verse), who oversees all aspects of elocution. The diction is clear, and the action builds up a frantic head of steam until Antipholus at the end exclaims, "I...see!!"
When all is straightened out, the entire company joins in a celebratory dance. The production emphasizes farce above all -- and the result, if not profound, is thoroughly captivating.
