Anya Kai talks to Michael Hagins about The Bard

New York City theater-goers are in for a treat this summer as celebrated Shakespearean artist Michael Hagins, director for the Shakespeare Sports Theatre Company, unveils his latest production: a frolicsome and free rendition of William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors.” Kicking off the Shakespeare Summer Tour, this uproarious farce promises to bring roaring laughter to parks and performance spaces across the city.

Michael Hagins is no stranger to the Bard. His extensive directorial resume boasts an impressive list of Shakespeare’s works, including tragedies like Macbeth, Hamlet, and King Lear, as well as comedies such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night. His deep familiarity with Shakespeare’s canon allows him a unique insight into bringing these timeless stories to life for modern audiences.

“Shakespeare even today still has relevant themes and amazing comic timing,” says Hagins. “I’ve always had a ball not only just creating Shakespeare, but interpreting the various ways it can be seen and heard.” He highlights a key difference between directing Shakespeare and modern works: “Modern works are much more finite and don’t have the room to be interpreted; but you can change Shakespeare with costumes, set, or even just one or two character traits.”

“The Comedy of Errors” is a perfect vehicle for Hagins’ interpretive approach. The play, described as a “frolicsome farce so fantastically foolish, it’s practically a recipe for roaring laughter,” centers on two sets of identical twins separated at birth who unwittingly find themselves in the same city, Ephesus, leading to a cascade of mistaken identities and hilarious misunderstandings. The cast, featuring Vic Gitre, Charlie Keegan James, Emily Glaser, Jennifer Kim, Melissa Meli, Erica Gerold, Katie Freimann, Lila Ashley Meyers, Kasey Cznowski, Hayley Berketa, and Molly Feisher, is set to bring this chaotic comedy to vibrant life.

Hagins notes that the enduring appeal of mistaken identity plots, a concept Shakespeare perfected, lies in their inherent fun. “Girls dressing up as boys and royalty pretending to be commoners (and vice versa) is STILL something fun for everyone. It’s a familiar comedy that has existed for centuries, and something that is fun for all ages!” In this production, the use of masks for the twins will add another layer of comedic confusion for the audience to unravel.

Beyond the lack of royalties, Hagins explains why Shakespeare’s work continues to captivate audiences centuries later. “Shakespeare is still funny; Shakespeare is still tragic; and Shakespeare is still relevant even after over 400 years.” He emphasizes the unique freedom Shakespeare’s text provides: “Shakespeare gives us these guides in the text, and gives us the carte blanche to tell our own version of the story. It doesn’t matter how it’s told; where it’s told; when or why it’s told…the audience will come, and they will sit back and enjoy.”

The Shakespeare Summer Tour’s “Comedy of Errors” is entirely free to the public, making it an accessible and enjoyable cultural event for all ages. The current schedule includes performances at Riverside Church on July 17th at 7 pm, St. Francis Cabrini Shrine on July 19th and 20th at 4 pm, Summit Rock in Central Park on July 26th and August 2nd at 2 pm, and Pat’s Lawn in Inwood Hill Park on July 27th at 2 pm. Reservations are encouraged for all events.

Looking ahead, Hagins revealed that his company, Fork the Odds Productions, will be presenting a Shakespearean version of The Princess Bride called As You Wish It at the Little Shakespeare Festival in August, promising more details to come.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Michael Hagins’ visionary direction and the timeless humor of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” this summer.