There seems to be no question that anything directed by Michael Hagins seems to be something you should effort to see.  This is the second show I have seen him direct (the first was wonderful The Senator Speaks which he authored) and the second where he has done a brilliant job capturing the characters on stage. 

Hagins brings all the raucous comedy Shakespeare provides to life in front of the picturesque Central Park space of Summit Rock.  His skills as a fight choreographer are on full display as he demands prat falls and actors running around the entire site to get into the next scene.

Beginning the show by using finger puppets to set the scene for the balance of the play gets the audience immediately invested and invites the anticipation of what’s next.  The minimal, but exactly right costuming, never lets us doubt that physically very different actors are, in fact, two pairs of identical twins. 

Hagins cast does not have the powerful voices that NY Classical Theater provides in its productions, but the well-trained voices are almost always clear in this outdoor space as he brings the actors closer to the audience than NY Classical finds necessary.  The advantage is we get even more anticipatory of the continuous action.

Deserving special praise are Emily Glaser (Dromio of Syracuse) and Jennifer Kim (Dromio of Ephesus) who are asked to do many physically demanding things on the unforgiving outdoor surface and play the most important “fools” with aplomb.  If there is one out of the box wish I would have, should Hagins do another production of Comedy, it is to have Adriana and Luciana also be identical twins and add even one more level of comedy to this wonderful farce.