Just as every why hath a wherefore, every Inverness summer hath its play, and this year West Marin’s bardolators are crowdfunding their production of one of the Stratford-Upon-Avon writer’s most preposterous slapstick productions, “The Comedy of Errors.”
Inverness Park resident Sharron Drake is producing and, for the first time, directing the play, which will take place at St. Columba’s amphitheater on Aug. 26 and 27 and Sept. 2, 3 and 4. The Inverness Theatre Project still needs $1,500 to meet its $5,000 goal. Each donation of $25 constitutes an advance ticket purchase. Pledges of $100 or more are rewarded with “program acknowledgement and unending thanks.”
Ms. Drake said the theater company’s plywood set has been decaying for years, and although the shabby look lent itself to last year’s production of “The Miser,” a total remake is needed now. The crew also needs help covering the expense of landscaping and porta-potties. “It’s a bigger task than usual,” Ms. Drake said. “We really do need to get a lot of people on board to help us with these costs early on.”
The first recorded performance of “The Comedy of Errors” was in 1594—making it Shakespeare’s eighth play—in the hall of Gray’s Inn as a part of that year’s Christmas festivities.
The play centers around the absurd and sometimes frustrating misadventures of two pairs of identical twins separated at birth and accidentally reunited years later. Like any good Shakespeare, it joins comedy with sorrow, infidelity, assault, lunacy and demonic possession. And there’s a local twist: instead of taking place in the Greek city of Ephesus, this production takes place in West Marin.
“We’re trying to mine all the richness of West Marin’s culture,” Ms. Drake said. “Shakespeare’s language is the thing that transcends time. That was one of my mission statements—putting on quality Shakespeare on a local level and evangelizing how Shakespeare, when it’s done well, is beautiful.”
The twins are portrayed by Matt Gallagher and Seamus Tomkins, both playing dual roles. Mr. Gallagher—Antipholus of Inverness and Antipholus of San Francisco—has been involved in theater since his youth and starred in past productions “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “As You Like It” and “Taming of the Shrew.” As Ms. Drake’s husband, he takes on other roles off the stage, such as building sets and landscaping.
Point Reyes Station resident Seamus Tomkins—Dromio of Inverness and Dromio of San Francisco—is a project coordinator at West Marin Community Services but moonlights as Press on Randy, his one-man-band moniker with several albums to his name. Mr. Tomkins’s last theatrical production was in Italy 15 years ago, when he worked for a theater education program. He’s excited to get his feet wet again in this frenetic production.
“I like to do physical acting, and this role allows that,” he said. “I like the theme of a bunch of mishaps and the slapstick work of Shakespeare, and I’m really excited to play two different characters that are twins. It’s all very appealing to me!”
The production will also feature the talents of Geoff Hoyle, an award-winning actor who played Zazu in the original 1997 Broadway performance of “The Lion King,” and Gene Ptak, a West Marin thespian and one-time teacher of Shakespeare at the West Marin School. Other local talent includes Camilla Ford, Allison Strahan and Simon Woodard.
The multi-talented cast will also play the score, composed by Inverness Park resident and award-winning composer Richard Jennings. Mr. Jennings, who said this is his second time composing for “The Comedy of Errors,” reported that the score will be a small string ensemble playing a blend of blues and rock ’n roll.
To donate, go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sharrondrake/the-comedy-of-errors.