By: Joseph Szalinski
Summertime typically finds Bronx Field littered with dogs, softball teams, unbalanced cyclists, kids playing release, and the ivy-choked ruins of a playground you spent your childhood at that hauntingly loom over the outfield from its garden of decay. Every so often, one might find suburban space cadets, carnivals with two-headed goats, and, strangest of all, thespians. Steel City Shakespeare Center brings the funniest thing seen in Bronx since your friend hurt themselves while sledding, with their production of The Comedy of Errors, directed by Bob Colbert and Alexandra Hellinger.
Everyone makes mistakes. I have made thousands. For instance, I considered writing this article with intentional typos and various technical flaws. Ultimately, I decided against it. Every mistake you might catch is unintended. Speaking of, screwing up is at the heart of the Bard’s classic gut-buster. The error-prone characters “accidentally” their way through instances of demonic possession, mistaken identity, romance, and violence. Complementing the chaos are wordplay, slapstick, and a handful of musical numbers.
Tasked with interpreting the script’s insanity and multiple roles is a qualified cast that sings, dances, and tumbles their way through the story. Leading the charge is director Bob Colbert. When not cranking out sick tunes on his accordion, he delights as his characters, having lots of fun with Dr. Pinch, particularly. Alexandra Hellinger and Allie Burns both do amazing jobs as separated siblings Antipholus of Syracuse/Antipholus of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse/Dromio of Ephesus, respectively. Combining dynamic physicality and terrific delivery, this duo is incredibly entertaining, especially with their scuffles, orchestrated by fight captain Lauren Scheller-Wolf and fight and intimacy choreographer Ella Mizera.
Jillian Thomas wonderfully juggles her Rolodex of characters, leaning into their respective absurdity with absolute commitment, clad in crazy costumes or otherwise. Catherine Hayashi showcases her skills as Adriana and the Courtesan, utilizing her voice to differentiate between her roles. Clara Lord and Mina Aksak round out the cast as merchants and officers, interjecting humorous lines and indulging in the play’s pervasive silliness.
Despite being outside, this production effectively incorporates numerous clever technical choices, most notably in its costuming. Production designer Hannah Ruth Moss and design assistant Siena Forschein dress the cast and the set impeccably. Puppets, designed by Cat Aceto, help make the pentameter more palatable, hilariously enacting passages earlier on. Props are simple yet effective, eliciting laughs and advancing the plot.
Theatre is a beautiful thing, and it is even lovelier when soundtracked by birdsong and lit by a bashful sun. Teeming with greenery and ample room for staging plays, Bronx Field is a wonderful space for Shakespeare in the Park. It is refreshing to see a small-town staple being used to bring art and culture to the community. While the Steel City Shakespeare Center utilizes various venues for its productions and other shows, it would be great to see more live entertainment at Bronx Field.
Driven, talented, and unlike anyone else, the Steel City Shakespeare Center again demonstrates its resilience, having weathered seasons for over a decade. Their talented casts and crews, in concert with a marvelous selection of shows, make them a must-see for any Pittsburgh-based theatre nerd. Paired with The West View Hub on Perry Highway, SCSC helps foster a community that is so vital to community theatre.
-JS
Steel City Shakespeare Center continues its run of The Comedy of Errors Friday, July 18th at Bruno Sammartino Park in Ross Township and July 19th-20th at Bronx Field in West View. For tickets or additional information, click here.
