With the celebration of William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday this year, it’s no surprise to see City Theater Company taking on one of his works — and it’s no surprise that they chose a twist on Shakespeare: BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS, the award-winning hip-hop version of COMEDY OF ERRORS by Jordan Allen-Dutton, Jason Catalano, GQ, and Erik Weiner. Hip-hop and Shakespeare may seem like strange bedfellows, but it’s all about the prose, and, of course, the rhyme.
With just four actors playing more than 20 characters, including two sets of identical twins, the farcical comedy is manic at times, with quick costume (more like accessory) changes and plenty of gender bending.
The quartet of players — Chris Banker, Dylan Geringer, Patrick O’Hara, and Brendan Sheehan — dive into their multiple roles, with stark (and hilarious) transformations. Banker has a crazy good old-school hip-hop voice reminiscent of Newcleus — the best rapper of the four, but each brought their own thing to the show. Sheehan is highly changeable, O’Hara is over-the-top funny, and Dylan Geringer is… well, Dylan Geringer. There isn’t a show she doesn’t steal, though this is a production with four standouts, and no clear thief.
The fifth player is DJ Swizzul, as himself, keeping the beats going for the 90-minute show.
Seating is in the round (of course!), with cocktail tables available for VIP and first-come-first-serve General Admission, bench seating, and seats lining the stage. There’s space to get up and dance if the mood strikes, and the in-theater bar is open throughout the show, for a party atmosphere. What better way to celebrate The Bard’s 450th?
BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS
by Jordan Allen-Dutton, Jason Catalano, GQ, and Erik Weiner
Music by J.A.Q.
Directed by Michael Gray
May 2 – 17, 2014
City Theater Company
OPERADELAWARE Studios
4 South Poplar Street,
Wilmington DE 19801
302-220-8285
http://city-theater.org
