The Grassroot Shakespeare Co., known for being one of the most actor-centered theatres in Utah, presented a captivating and boisterous outdoor evening performance of Shakespeare’s “A Comedy of Errors" at Holladay City Park. The 60-minute theatrical comedy, sponsored by the Holladay Arts Council, was a nod back to the way “Shakespeare did Shakespeare.” 

Traveling back to Shakespeare’s day, his plays were performed with barely rehearsed and highly improvised scripts, resulting in a bit of chaotic spontaneity. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

The entire cast took the stage for a lively 30-minute musical pre-show, showcasing a variety of percussion and acoustic instruments. Max Rhineer kept the upbeat tempo on the Cajun drum, while Gary Argyl played banjo, Chase Schetselaar performed on the viola, and Kira Halterman added a unique touch with the melodica. The actors kicked things off with Jimmy Eat World’s popular hit “The Middle," an energetic, mood-lifting song that had the audience clapping and on their feet. The lively musical performance set the tone for an evening filled with fun, community, and a whirlwind of mistaken identities and hilarious chaos.

Shakespeare’s plays were a collaborative effort by the actors. There were no costume designers. No set. No director. Genderblind casting was the norm. Actors used scripts with just their own lines. And all plays were delivered using “direct address.” Yes, you read that correctly; it was left up to the cast to make all of those critical decisions with the help and council of their castmates. Shakespeare’s scripts came to life from many minds instead of one singular vision of a director. 

Traveling back to Shakespeare’s day, his plays were performed with barely rehearsed and highly improvised scripts, resulting in a bit of chaotic spontaneity. However, surprisingly, the cast delivered a well-polished performance on Friday evening, demonstrating the actors' camaraderie and anticipation of each other’s line delivery, which enhanced the humor in real time. 

“As a cast, we have rehearsed the play five nights a week over the last two weeks,” said cast member Alexandra Vaughn. “All costumes were interpreted and created by the cast for their characters; that’s why you’ll see a cop decked out in a full modern-day uniform. There is no set, just the stage, and most of the props you’ll see are quite simple. In Shakespeare’s time, all women characters were usually played by young boys. Women weren’t even allowed on the stage. Tonight, you’ll see women playing men’s parts, men playing women’s parts, and everything in between.”

According to Arts Council member Bonnie Nell, this is the second year the Grassroots Shakespeare Co. has performed in Holladay.  

“The cast are all professional actors,” Nell said. “What I love about this acting company is they get up and ‘spoof’ a little bit, have a good time, and really engage the audience. They pull the audience right into the play. This outdoor theatre performance is an excellent beginning for all of our planned summer events.” 

The entire cast took the stage for a lively 30-minute musical pre-show, showcasing a variety of percussion and acoustic instruments. Max Rhineer kept the upbeat tempo on the Cajun drum, while Gary Argyl played banjo, Chase Schetselaar performed on the viola, and Kira Halterman added a unique touch with the melodica. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

Blankets and camp chairs were scattered across the lawn near the stage, creating an intimate park setting that actively involved the audience through a technique called “direct address,” where the actors spoke directly to the audience. Shakespeare wrote his plays with the audience’s reactions in mind, to the point that many lines that appear not to be in iambic pentameter are, but only once the audience’s response is present.

“A Comedy of Errors” is one of William Shakespeare's earliest and shortest plays. It follows the misadventures of two sets of identical twins separated at birth: Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant Dromio of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus with his servant Dromio of Ephesus. When the twins accidentally reunite as adults, a series of humorous mix-ups and mistaken identities unfold. As this farcical comedy was brought to life, the audience couldn't help but erupt in uproarious laughter at the actors' impeccable comedic timing and simple yet comical props, such as “the mighty rock,” which measured a few inches in width and length. 

Grassroots Shakespeare Co., a nonprofit theatre company, has been holding performances throughout Utah for 16 years. Actors from Hale Center Theatre Orem founded the theatre company. Davey Morrison, a professional actor, director, and one of the founders, continues to write grants to support the outdoor traveling Shakespeare play performances, which are presented free to the public. 

Tour and musician manager Gary Argyle joined the company in 2014. A guitarist, Argyle, and a violist, Chase Schetselaar, improvised music for the evening play performance by reacting to the show as a character would on stage. Their musical improvisation set the scene, emphasized the character's drama, and created the overall encompassing tone. 

The Grassroots Shakespeare Co. is versatile, offering a range of options for private parties, corporate events, and educational workshops. The company will be performing at outdoor venues through July. Auditions will be held in August for their October Halloween performances.  

Check out their website for more information, audience guidelines, the summer performance schedule, and audition details at www.grassroots-shakespeare.com/ .