Oh, the horror! The terror! It’s Edgar Allan Poe! Oh wait, is that Billie Holiday? There’s Frederick Douglass! A hon?! Well, thanks to the wizard adapter and director Ian Gallanar, It’s The Comedy of Errors, Hon! (mostly) by William Shakespeare, now playing at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. And just a small, big side note: It’s CSC’s official 100th production! So, congrats on that! This delightful, Baltimore-themed take on classic Shakespeare kept the laughter coming even before they got started! It’s a great way to become acquainted with Shakespeare for beginners and a fun take for the connoisseur. I see this becoming a fast favorite for theatergoers this season.
Even before we get started, you have the “Hawker” offering you (for purchase) Fisher’s Old Bay popcorn, Cowtails, and of course, Natty Boh. I must say, the popcorn was very tasty. It helped solidify a very “hon” vibe. You are also regaled by some classic Baltimore musical entertainment from the pre-show musicians: Greg Atkin, Holly Gibbs, Jose O. Guzman, Matt Harris, Laura Malkus, and Brendan Murray, “Crabs for Christmas” by David DeBoy (local Baltimore actor), and “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Barry Man and Cynthia Well, made famous by Cass Elliott (of the Mamas and the Papas), just to name a few. There were some fun facts and lighthearted jabs toward our northern brothers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh because, you know, why not? The play itself was so much fun and plain enjoyable, I was laughing the entire time.
Set in the mind of Baltimore, according to Poe, acted by Gil Mitchell, this play is more of a warm mix of all things Baltimore and Shakespeare. Based on Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, the plot of the mistaken identities of the twins is still the central storyline. Two sets of twins bring chaos to an entire city through no fault of their own. It’s a whole whirlwind of a mess. But it is a fun mess to witness.
One of the things I truly appreciate is all things “Hon.” Kristina Lambdin, costume and wig designer, brought her top-tier “A” game to the party. The wigs were fun with their ribbon design, and the costumes were quintessential “Hon” attire. I even loved the little pink shoes with the bows. I kind of want a pair for myself.
Let’s give a rousing round of applause to Shakill Jamal, who portrayed Antipholus of Baltimore and Philadelphia. I appreciated how he made his character very much a typical “hood” dude from Baltimore with classic Philly candor. Hilarious. Even his strut and swagger were flawless.
Another personal favorite was Luciana, played by Dawn Thomas Reidy. I can’t quite put my little finger on it, but every time I saw her onstage, she gave me joy. From polishing the stairs to her shock-and-awe moments, it was amusing to watch her.
I also appreciated the guest appearance of Elana Michelle as Billie Holiday. While we will never have the pleasure of hearing Ms. Holiday live, we had the gratification of hearing a most pleasant rendition of “All of Me” by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons. Her voice was achingly beautiful in this moment.
But the real MVP was Dromio of both Baltimore and Philadelphia, acted by Jose O. Guzman. He literally had me in stitches in almost every scene where he showed up. While he was given a script to perform, he gave back sheer enthusiastic entertainment. The number of times he was yanked up by a variety of people was laughable. He did a fabulous job of creating and maintaining the mayhem. Even his “ewww” moments were funny. Honestly, the way he says “spherical” to describe his brother’s wife was a chef’s kiss for me. And I do hope he finally got a chance to eat a proper sandwich.
Overall, this adaptation was everything I wanted and needed it to be. I openly enjoyed the show and was besotted with the random moments. For example, the dancing gorilla. It was completely unexpected, but I’m happy it happened. You’ll just have to see that tidbit for yourself.
Running time: Two hours with a 15-minute intermission.
It’s The Comedy of Errors, Hon! plays through March 9, 2025, at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, 7 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD. Purchase tickets ($28–$55) by calling 410-244-8570, visiting the Box Office in person, or ordering online.
The program for It’s The Comedy of Errors, Hon! is online here.
It’s The Comedy of Errors, Hon!
(Mostly) by William Shakespeare
Adapted and Directed by Ian Gallanar
