The Comedy of Errors

This early outing from Shakespeare relies on mistaken identity rather than on language for its jokes. The Sacramento Shakespeare Festival’s production, set in fin-de-siècle Paris, rollicks with can-can girls and fart jokes and is the perfect way to dress up a straight-forward set of complications and milk the play for every laugh possible. The doubled leads—twins named Antipholus (played by Rod Breton and Michael Murphy, both in stentorian splendor) and twins named Dromio (gender-bent by Kira Taylor and Allison Hoggard)—set up Martin-and-Lewis-style comedy in stereo, gathering hilarity as they go, and the happy ending arrives right on schedule.
Sacramento Shakespeare Festival; 8 p.m. July 20, 22, 27, 30, August 3 and 5; $10-$15. William A. Carroll Amphitheatre, William Land Park; (916) 558-2228, www.sacramentoshakespeare.net. Through August 5.