Steadstyle Chicago
	May 2008 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
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Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com The Comedy of Errors Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** Navy Pier is a destination for visitors to Chicago as well as our own suburban neighbors, and is known as an amusement center as well as home to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.  Well, right now, with its latest production of William Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" this theater has become an amusement center itself.  From the very start of this marvelous production staged by Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, the entire theater is filled with laughter, almost three hours of continuous laughter and the audience didn't want it to be over.  This is not typical Shakespeare, but a unique production aided by some clever writing by Second City veteran Ron West.  The scene is 1940, during the Golden Age of film and the actors are a varied group of English (and one American) stage and screen actors, on an English movie set making a new film version of this Shakespeare classic as the bombs burst in air during the London blitz.  Each actor and crew member has a distinct personality with some of the lead actors representing some of the stars of this period, some recognizable, others stereotypes of the era. Ms. Gaines has outdone herself with this one!  Not only is this a perfect blend of old and new, but she has assembled a cast that is made up of some of the funniest men in Chicago.  Greg Vinkler,  William Dick, Kevin Gudahl (who of course does serious roles well, too), Dale Benson (who can make the smallest of roles a theatrical memory), Sean Fortunato (who can steal a scene with the best of them) and of course Ross Lehman, who can do no wrong and knows exactly what to do to get a laugh. In addition, this cast includes Sean Allan Krill and Timothy Edward Kane as the twin brothers who were separated as babies and due to circumstances find themselves in the same town, not knowing they had a twin.  Both of these actors are top-notch and can play comedy with the others.  Paula Scrofano, the delightful Kymberly Angela Ingersoll and Nancy Voights are the females in this production and Douglas Vickers, Ron Turner, Dan Sanders-Joyce, Roger Mueller, Dan Kenney, Norm Boucher and Don Forston round out this delightful cast of actors who appear to be having as much fun as the audience. The story is about two sets of twins; one set aristocrats, the other servants.  As babies, they are separated as pairs (master and servant) and have the same names.  Neither are aware that they have a twin and go on to live their lives until by chance one pair comes to the town where the other resides and all hell breaks loose.  This is a rollicking story on its own, but adding to it a movie being made of it with a war going on overhead and personal love triangles between cast and director and what we have is a rip-roaring comedy that will leave you with pains in your sides from laughing so hard.  Kane is hysterical and Krill superb as the two brothers, while Gudahl and Lehman play off each other to perfection. Each member of this cast, no matter the size of the role or roles they play, make this the sparkling production that I suggest everyone try to see.  If you hate Shakespeare, this will change your attitude.  If you love Shakespeare, you will adore this one.  The sets by Neil Patel and lighting by Robert Wiersel are great touches.  The only problem that I saw in the entire production was that there were some sound problems and perhaps, they should look at some small mikes for actors during scenes where they turn their backs to a majority of the audience.  This is a spacious stage and sound can get lost.  There are no other flaws, just greatness. "The Comedy of Errors" will continue on the stage at Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier through June 29, 2008.  Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Saturday evening at 8 p.m., Sunday evening at 7 p.m.  Matinees are Wednesday at 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.  Tickets range from $54-$70 and can be purchased at the box office, by phone at 312-595-5600 or online at www.chicagoshakes.com.  There is discounted parking at the pier (bring your ticket to the theater for validation). Public transportation makes it easy to visit and of course there is the free trolley (can be picked up at Grand and State).  There are also lots of places to eat at Navy Pier, so make a day of it.   About Alan Bresloff Alan Bresloff, once an actor himself, has been covering the Chicago Theater Scene since 1993, first as the Theater and Arts critic for LaRaza newspaper, then with Salsachicago.com and then onto Extra Newspaper and The EpochTimes.  He also writes for ElImparcial and TeleGuia.  His reviews can also be seen on www.theatreinchicago.com.  Alan does not call himself a "critic" but a "reviewer" as he tries to educate the reader about theater itself, what is a good value, what to look for in a play or musical and more.  "Exposure to theater is a very important part of a young person's life" he says. "Learning about the arts and culture is in fact learning about life" and he tries to explain more in his reviews than just if it is good or bad.  Even some of the poor productions have some value, he often says and he would love your feedback on shows that you have seen.  You can write him here or at albresloff@sbcglobal.net.