Reading Community Players Presents The Comedy of Errors

From Reading Community Players

Pictured above: Antipholus of Ephesus (played by Tony Quinones) tries to prove to his wife (played by Stephanie Coriolan) that he is the perfect husband. Photo courtesy of Megan Martin

Reading Community Players continues its 2025 “season of classics” by presenting Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. This laugh-out-loud tale is full of mistaken identities, chaotic reunions, and general mayhem. The farce will be presented on Friday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m.; on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m.; and on Sunday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m., at the Wyomissing United Church of Christ, 2 Vermont Road, Gouglersville.

In The Comedy of Errors, twin confusion reaches Olympic levels. When two sets of identical twins — separated at birth — end up in the same city, chaos erupts. Wives mistake strangers for husbands, debts are wrongly demanded, and tempers flare as the mix-ups multiply. But just when it seems the madness can’t be untangled, all is set right in a heartwarming finale. Fast-paced and hilariously absurd, this classic farce proves that even the most tangled mess can end in harmony.

Director Steve Reazor thoroughly enjoys working on the show. “It’s definitely one of Shakespeare’s funniest plays.”

The director has a 20th-century comparison: “It’s like watching The Brady Bunch, but Greg and Marcia are twins as well as Jan and Peter, while Mike owes Sam the Butcher for a roasted pig, and Carol thinks her husband’s cheating on her with Alice. It gets completely nuts, and I haven’t even talked about the attempted exorcism!”

The show is also set in 1950s Italy. Reazor explains, “This will make the show a bit more accessible to a modern audience. Shakespeare needs to be seen by people. After all, he may be the best writer that ever lived.”

Emily Hershey, a local English teacher who plays sister-in-law to one of the twins, confirms that “so many of our cultural references and expressions come from Shakespeare! Each time you interact with Shakespeare in some way, you are opening yourself up to a deeper artistic understanding of the world around you.”

“But any comedy comes with challenges,” according to Reazor. Well-known actors have been rumored to say that dying is hard, but not as hard as comedy.

Local actor, Megan Martin, agreeably explains, “Shakespeare feels like another language to almost everybody. It’s the actor’s portrayal, inflection, and body language that help the audience to understand what’s being said. That’s our job as actors, certainly, but it feels more pronounced with Shakespeare.”

Alexandra Nicholas, who plays Martin’s twin, definitely relates, “I’m conversational in several languages, but I found Middle English is by far the most difficult language for me to comprehend. It would be easier for me to memorize lines if this play were written in Italian. It’s set in Italy after all, and I took Italian in college!”

Assistant director, Tony Quinones, who also plays one of the twins, has been challenged in a different way. He states, “My challenge was never in regard to my acting, but rather directing my first scene in a show. Trying to shape my vision to fit within the narrative framework was a bit tough, but fun.” Reazor is grateful and proud of Quinones’ contribution.

Quinones also believes, “The audience will find the show always entertaining. The cast is great, the pace is fast, and the character interactions are fun.”

The Comedy of Errors is a special fundraiser to benefit the Betty Lou McLean Scholarship Fund. Reading Community Players awards this scholarship every spring. Applicants must be graduating seniors who have participated in an RCP show. Preference is given to students entering an arts program. Donations will also be accepted before and after the show.

This scholarship was established to remember local theater artist Betty Lou McLean. This gifted actress was well-known for acting and directing for several local theaters. She also taught at the Penn State Berks Campus and was one of the founders of the Berks Arts Council.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and can be purchased online at www.readingcommplayers.com. Flex season passes are also available.

Reading Community Players is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing quality theatre and arts education to communities. To learn more about the organization and its offerings, visit www.readingcommplayers.com.

The post Reading Community Players Presents The Comedy of Errors appeared first on BCTV.

Source: bctv