Independent Shakespeare Company’s Live At The Porpentine: A Comedy Of Errors

Shakespeare fans in Los Angeles have long enjoyed Shakespeare in the park, the park being Griffith Park, where Independent Shakespeare Company has made its summer home for well over a decade. But the Independent Shakespeare Company also has an indoor theatre, supplying people with their Shakespeare fix throughout the year. Not only do they put on performances of Shakespeare’s works (and the works of other playwrights), but they also hold special events. The last several days the company held its Iambic Lab, the theme this year being “Celebrating Transformation.” And tonight, as part of that celebration, there was a screening of Live At The Porpentine: A Comedy Of Errors, a film the company made during the pandemic as a way to remain active and keep the actors employed, and a way to further explore the works of Shakespeare.

Directed by David Melville, the movie is an adaptation of The Comedy Of Errors, set in the early 1960s and presented as a musical. Several years ago, the company performed Shakespeare’s play in Griffith Park, with David Melville as Doctor Pinch. There was a musical aspect to that performance as well. Since that production, Doctor Pinch And The Pinchtones have apparently performed several times, and there was an idea for a musical centering on that character. As David Melville talked about in the Q&A following tonight’s screening, some of that material found its way into Live At The Porpentine: A Comedy Of Errors, such as the Frau Müller character (played by the incomparable Erika Soto), who takes the place of the Courtesan character of Shakespeare’s text. She delivers the songs in this film adaptation, most of which are performed at The Porpentine, here a club rather than an inn. And a club that serves a good milkshake at that.

The film is a delight. It stars Brent Charles at Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse, Xavi Moreno as Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse, Bukola Ogunmola as Adriana, Carene Rose Mekertichyan as Luciana, Richard Azurdia as Angelo, Luis Galindo as Solinus, and Sabra Williams as Emilia. The entire cast is strong, but Brent Charles and Xavi Moreno stand out in particular. Both do tremendous jobs distinguishing their two characters, yet finding enough similarities that others’ confusion makes sense. Those familiar with the play will enjoy some of the changes and additions, such as a reluctant firing squad member and of course the Dr. Pinch material, what with the laughing gas and all. And for those who haven’t seen or read the play, the action should be fairly clear, particularly as much of the information is provided in some of the songs. By the way, those who have attended performances in Griffith Park will certainly recognize some of the locations used in the film. And there is a goat.

A soundtrack for the film is available on CD. Let’s hope a DVD release of the film itself will follow. As for the theatre, next up is a new adaptation of Noel Coward’s Private Lives, which takes the action from the early 1930s and places it in Acapulco in the 1950s. This production is scheduled to open on April 6th. The theatre is located at 3191 Casitas Ave., Suite 130, in Los Angeles, California. There is free parking in the lot next to the building.