Ah, Shakespeare in the park. It’s one of those unofficial rites of summer that people come to expect. If you’ve never seen a Shakespeare performance in a park before, you might not understand what’s so great about it – which is all the more reason to get yourself to Clark Park to see the “The Comedy of Errors” this weekend!

Clark Park is a gem of West Philly, coming alive with children, dogs, exercisers, the farmers’ market and more every summer. Adding to the fun, Shakespeare in Clark Park had been producing free outdoor plays since 2005. This year’s choice is one of the bard’s most popular comedies, and the play features a whole slew of Philly’s comedic actors, with Luigi Sottile (as Antipholus of Syracuse) and David Sweeney (playing many different characters) turning in especially hysterical performances.

A quick plot summary if you’re not in the know: There are two sets of identical twins, accidentally separated at birth. One set of twins is wealthy; the other is their slaves. For some unknown reason, each set of identical twins has the same name . . . Antipholus and his slave Dromio of Syracuse wind up in Ephesus, where the other set lives. I don’t think I can go on any more without confusing myself. Just know this: mistaken identities galore!

This production includes an unusual feature for most Shakespeare performances: entertainingly bizarre musical interludes! All the actors play musical instruments onstage, including a trumpet, drums, and an assortment of strange-looking woodwinds. The show only runs through Sunday, so grab a blanket, some friends, and even your dog and a picnic and catch some summertime Shakespeare.

The Comedy of Errors
Presented by Shakespeare at Clark Park
Wednesday, July 29 - Sunday, August 2, 2009
All Performances at 7PM
www.shakespeareinclarkpark.org

Clark Park (Near ‘The Bowl’)
Intersection of Chester Avenue and 43rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
www.clarkpark.info