“With Shakespeare You Get Lost in the Sauce”
By late October, the ensemble was flying through the No Fear text. The experiment—voted on earlier in the month—had become a bonding experience. Even those who were initially skeptical began to see the benefits. “It gets you in the mindset of these characters—their emotions,” one participant said. “With Shakespeare you get lost in the sauce. With the No Fear, the proof is in the pudding.” Another added simply, “This makes sense.”
Act 3.2 brought flirtation and wit, with Antipholus wooing Luciana and Dromio cracking nonstop jokes. “It was the first time I took a role that big,” one participant said after reading. Every time a Dromio joke landed, the whole group shouted “Ay-oh!” until laughter filled the room.
In Act 4.1, Antipholus of Ephesus found himself in debt and under arrest, and the ensemble worked to untangle who owed whom. By the time they reached Act 4.2, Adriana’s jealousy had the room buzzing again. One performer sprinted into her entrance, breathlessly accusing her sister of betrayal. Her timing was impeccable, and the group snapped and laughed in appreciation. “That was really funny,” one participant said admiringly.
On October 23, the ensemble revisited Act 4.4 and the play’s climactic final scene. The language was modern, but the emotion still rang true. “That was fun!” one participant said after finishing. “Let’s do it again!” As the group finished the No Fear side, attention turned toward the production. Costume and setting ideas flew around the room: “Renaissance!” someone shouted. “Bougie pirates!” another suggested. “1920s flapper and gangster attire—because we’re in our own 20s!” someone added. The idea stuck, filling the group with excitement for what’s next.
Auditions were right around the corner, and anticipation was palpable. The ensemble had read, laughed, argued, and reflected their way through The Comedy of Errors. As one participant said earlier in the season, “I used to be like, ‘not me,’ and now I’m ready to read.” The story of mistaken identity had become something more—a story about finding voice, purpose, and joy together.