Review by Ella Widau
There are few plays that thrive on chaos quite like Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors, and Gem City Groundlings leans into that chaos with confidence and clarity. Shakespeare’s shortest comedy is built on mistaken identities, rapid pacing, and escalating confusion. This production embraces all of it, delivering a lively take that keeps the audience along for the ride the whole time.
From the moment the show begins, it’s clear that this is a company that understands how to use space. The stage is expansive, but it never feels empty or underutilized. Instead, the cast fills it with intention, energy, and momentum, ensuring that even during moments of narrative confusion, the storytelling remains visually clear and engaging.
Brief Synopsis
Two sets of identical twins were accidentally separated at birth. About twenty years later, they unknowingly end up in the same city. Their similarities set off a series of escalating mishaps and cases of mistaken identity but eventually, a happy family reunion.
The Space and Design
Director Andrew Mitakides’ vision for this production is a 1960’s department store, like Dayton’s Rike’s or Cincinnati’s Shillito’s, which come alive during the holidays.
One of the strongest points of this production is its set. The design is striking in its simplicity; clean, adaptable, and smartly constructed. The walls are particularly effective. They’re not just visually interesting, but functional. Their ability to swing and shift allows the space to transform quickly, hiding what isn’t needed and revealing what is, keeping the story moving at a brisk pace without unnecessary clutter.
This minimalism works in the show’s favor. A Comedy of Errors doesn’t need spectacle to succeed, but rhythm and clarity, both of which are enhanced by the stage design and direction.
Performances That Anchor the Chaos
Adriana (Sarah Pearson) and her sister, Luciana (Kelly Boehm) share a dynamic that is consistently engaging. Their scenes are fuming with drama and chemistry, and their relationship feels fully lived-in rather than merely functional to the plot.
Pearson particularly stands out. Her line delivery is full of passion and emotion, allowing her frustrations and fears to hit the audience with real weight. In a play where characters are often reduced to comedic archetypes, this Adriana feels deeply human. She is easily one of the most compelling characters on stage.
The twin servants, the two Dromios, are another highlight. Both performances are strong, but Dromio of Syracuse (Aeson Liddic) is especially emotive and expressive, drawing the audience in with his physicality and reactions. Nicholas Beard is also an excellent Dromio of Ephesus. The chemistry between the two Dromios is what truly sells the comedy. Although never interacting until the very end of the play, you can feel the work they did with each other in order to portray their characters in a very similar light. Their shared physicality is what sticks out to me the most; they both are uncoordinated and shuffle across the stage, never fully lifting their feet. It’s a very good detail that adds a lot to the realness of the performance.
Language, Monologues, and Presence
Shakespeare’s language can oftentimes get lost. In this performance, the monologues are particularly well handled. Despite the size of the stage, the actors maintain strong presence and focus, drawing the audience’s attention exactly where it needs to be.
And then there’s Aegeon.
Though his stage time is limited, Aegeon (Don Smith) makes an incredibly memorable impression. The performance is bold, committed, and wildly entertaining. Every entrance feels purposeful, and the energy he brings electrifies the room. It’s the kind of performance that reminds you how powerful full commitment can be. Each appearance is a joy.
The Bottom Line
Gem City Groundlings’ A Comedy of Errors is a spirited, well-executed production that understands both the mechanics and the heart of Shakespeare. Strong use of space, a smart and flexible set, and standout performances— particularly Adriana, the Dromios, and an unforgettable Aegeon—combine to create an evening that is fast, funny, and thoughtfully crafted.
This is Shakespeare that trusts its audience, trusts its actors, and trusts the joy of live theatre to do the rest.
Tickets to Gem City Groundlings’s A Comedy of Errors
Gem City Groundlings’ A Comedy of Errors is running through December 13 at the Dayton Convention Center. For more information and tickets, CLICK HERE.
Ella Widau is from Springboro, OH, and is passionate about dance, theatre and art. They are a Junior at the University of Dayton. Ella manages LCT Social Media.
