Hilary Bell is much in demand at the moment. She has two plays opening on the same day, TAKE TWO : A COMEDY OF ERRORS at the Riverside Theatres, Parramatta and Splinter at the Stables Theatre. We chatted for a bit about the Shakespeare comedy.
Bell was commissioned by the National Theatre Of Parramatta, an exciting Commission she said.The commission asked her to rework a Shakespeare play to make it enjoyable for primary school kids. She jumped at the opportunity. She was told she could choose any work from the Shakespeare canon. She chose A Comedy of Errors– ‘the shortest and funniest’ of Shakespeare’s comedies.’
Bell said she has kept about 20% of the original text and the rest she has updated to contemporary idiom. Some of the soliloquies have been turned into songs, and the jokes have been updated.
“It is important for kids to enjoy Shakespeare’s beautiful language. It is a lively production with the actors entering from different parts of theatre and directly interacting with the audience. The actors are also given the okay to improvise with the text and add to the comic aspects of the play.”
Bell said that music plays a large part in the production with five songs having been written for the production and plenty of music underscoring the action. “The action of the play is non naturalistic so kids can use their imaginations and enjoy with what’s happening on stage.”
Bell said the cast play multiple roles, for instance sets of twins are each played by the one actor. ‘The show will get the kids to use their imagination and enjoy the rich theatricality.”
“Kids can find Shakespeare very intimidating. This show throws a lifeline and makes Shakespeare more accessible and enjoyable.”
Whilst the tone of the production is comic, the play does have its darker themes such as being separated from family.
There will be seven performances in all with some being school performances.
Bell said that she has the internationally renowned director Stefo Nantsou helming the production, “ Mantsou has a lot of experience with kids shows and will do a great job.” A versatile cast of five performers will play all 13 characters.
The cast come from rich, multicultural backgrounds. The cast includes Libby Asciak (TV’s The Secret Daughter and Here Come the Habibs), Gabriel Fancourt (Darlinghurst Theatre Company’s The Hypochondriac, Sport for Jove’s The Tempest), Bilal Hafda (Story Factory), Mansoor Noor (ABC’s Rake and Cleverman), and Lindy Sardelic (TV’s Water Rats and Circle Music).
It all sounds like a lot of fun. TAKE TWO : A COMEDY OF ERRORS will play the Riverside Theatres at Parramatta on the 13th and 14th September, 2019.
https://riversideparramatta.com.au/
Featured image : A scene from ‘A Comedy of Errors’.