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If you are an identical twin, count yourself lucky at the latest Theatre @ York production of The Comedy of Errors. Identical twins get into any performance for free when they show up at the box office together.
Theatre @ York is winding up its season with this fresh production of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, opening at York University’s Burton Auditorium on Tuesday, March 23. This delightful situational comedy of mistaken identities will be directed by nationally acclaimed stage director Tom Diamond.
"What I’m trying to emphasize in this production is the clarity of storytelling, of making the language understood and of playing comedy with razor-sharpness," said Diamond, who is known for his theatrical verve and imagination. "There are so many tricky and delightful things in this play that make it a wonderful choice for this talented group of emerging actors, designers and production people."
Diamond has been mentoring young artists in York’s Department of Theatre in the Faculty of Fine Arts for more than 12 years. Drawing upon his lengthy and versatile career, the students are thrilled with the opportunity to work with one of Canada’s most distinguished directors.
Many memorable productions on some of Canada’s leading opera and theatre stages have been directed by Diamond. His credits include Sartorio’s Guilio Cesare in Egitto and Cavalli’s Giasone and La Calisto for the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio; Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Rossini’s Barber of Seville for Opera Lyra Ottawa; and Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro for Pacific Opera Victoria, where he will be returning later this year to direct Bellini’s Norma. In 1999, he collaborated with the performance group SQUONK and their show BIGSMORGASBORDWUNDERWERK became one of the biggest off-Broadway hits of the season, later transferring to the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway.
Play times, rates
The Comedy of Errors previews Sunday, March 21, and Monday, March 22, and runs through Saturday, March 27, in Burton Auditorium. Showtime is 7:30pm, with matinees at 1pm on Wednesday, March 24, and Friday, March 26.
Admission is $12, $8 for students & seniors and $5 group rate. The Sunday preview is pay-what-you-can and the Monday preview is $5.
For more details, contact the box office: 416-736-5172, ext. 3. Click here for further information about Theatre @ York.
More about Tom Diamond
Diamond’s honours include a 2001 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Musical for the world premiere of Chan Ka Nin’s Iron Road, a bilingual Cantonese/English opera about the building of the Canadian railroad for Tapestry New Opera Works. He also won the prestigious Chalmers Award for developing and directing the premiere production of Timothy Sullivan’s Florence - The Lady with the Lamp for the Elora Festival.
Theatre @ York productions showcase the talents of students in York University’s theatre department. The cast for The Comedy of Errors is drawn from the fourth-year acting ensemble. Set design is by Christine Barrett, costume design by Jenine Kroeplin, and lighting design is by Brendan Wiklund, all of whom are fourth-year students.