The Comedy Of Errors, by William Shakespeare
Toured Ottawa parks July 4 to August 4, 2013
Opening July 4th, 2013, The Comedy of Errors was directed by Anna Lewis, with vocal arrangements by Rachel Eugster and fight direction by John Brogan and Chris McLeod of National Stage Combat Training Partners. The tour visited parks across Ottawa between July 4th and August 4th.
Featuring:
Brie Barker, David Benedict Brown, Leslie Cserepy, Rachel Eugster, Michelle LeBlanc, Anna Lewis, Tim Oberholzer, Alexis Scott, Will Somers and David Whiteley.
Featuring:
Brie Barker, David Benedict Brown, Leslie Cserepy, Rachel Eugster, Michelle LeBlanc, Anna Lewis, Tim Oberholzer, Alexis Scott, Will Somers and David Whiteley.
The Reviews
Robyn Lester - The Charlebois Post
Thursday night I braved the ominous looking skies and headed to Lisgar Field, outside of City Hall, to check out Bear and Co.’s western-themed performance of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. Anticipating an absolute downpour, I brought my umbrella and hunkered down on the grass expecting the worst. But, as luck would have it, the skies cleared just moments before the show started and I was able to fully enjoy a delightful evening of Shakespeare in the park!
Under the direction of Anna Lewis, the entire cast did a fantastic job carrying out this western-themed comedy... (click here for more)
Kevin Reid - The Visitorium
...This is a terribly fun piece of theatre in the great outdoors, with as good an ensemble cast as you would ever need. David Benedict Brown and David Whiteley as the twin Dromios are comic gold, ever beaten down and bemoaning their fates. Alexis Scott got some spontaneous applause from the audience on my night while delivering one of Adriana’s more impassioned speeches towards the visiting Antipholus, and for my money she earned it…Rachel Eugster likewise made a vivacious Luciana. Will Somers, Anna Lewis and Leslie Cserepy (trading off the odd show with Brie Barker) round out the killer cast, pitching in as various nitwit sheriffs, washing women and uppity nuns. But the bulk of the show rests on Michelle LeBlanc’s capable shoulders, and she delivers like nobody’s business, managing to convincingly play two versions of Antipholus (complete with ever-so-slightly different country accents and swagger) and deliver the requisite mountain of dialogue, baffling amount of exits and re-entrances, plus the occasional rope trick, and lookin’ good doing it. Once again, Miz LeBlanc reminds us why she’s one of the best in Ottawa... (click here for more)
Thursday night I braved the ominous looking skies and headed to Lisgar Field, outside of City Hall, to check out Bear and Co.’s western-themed performance of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. Anticipating an absolute downpour, I brought my umbrella and hunkered down on the grass expecting the worst. But, as luck would have it, the skies cleared just moments before the show started and I was able to fully enjoy a delightful evening of Shakespeare in the park!
Under the direction of Anna Lewis, the entire cast did a fantastic job carrying out this western-themed comedy... (click here for more)
Kevin Reid - The Visitorium
...This is a terribly fun piece of theatre in the great outdoors, with as good an ensemble cast as you would ever need. David Benedict Brown and David Whiteley as the twin Dromios are comic gold, ever beaten down and bemoaning their fates. Alexis Scott got some spontaneous applause from the audience on my night while delivering one of Adriana’s more impassioned speeches towards the visiting Antipholus, and for my money she earned it…Rachel Eugster likewise made a vivacious Luciana. Will Somers, Anna Lewis and Leslie Cserepy (trading off the odd show with Brie Barker) round out the killer cast, pitching in as various nitwit sheriffs, washing women and uppity nuns. But the bulk of the show rests on Michelle LeBlanc’s capable shoulders, and she delivers like nobody’s business, managing to convincingly play two versions of Antipholus (complete with ever-so-slightly different country accents and swagger) and deliver the requisite mountain of dialogue, baffling amount of exits and re-entrances, plus the occasional rope trick, and lookin’ good doing it. Once again, Miz LeBlanc reminds us why she’s one of the best in Ottawa... (click here for more)
Tour Schedule - July 4 - August 4th, 2013
Preview Performance
Wednesday, July 3rd - Alta Vista, Applewood Park
Opening Night
Thursday, July 4th - Ottawa City Hall, Lisgar Field
Friday, July 5th - Hintonburg, Hintonburg Park
Saturday, July 6th - Westboro, Iona Park
Sunday, July 7th - 8 Locks Flat, Rideau Canal
Tuesday, July 9th - Manotick, Dickinson Square (near Watson's Mill)
Wednesday, July 10th - Alta Vista, Weston Park
Thursday, July 11th - Old Ottawa South, Windsor Park
Friday, July 12th - Vanier, Richelieu Park
Saturday, July 13th - Kanata, Huntsman Park
Sunday - July 14th - Almonte Herb Garden
Tuesday, July 16th - Carlingwood West, Glabar Park
Wednesday, July 17th - Nepean, Briargreen Park
Thursday, July 18th - The Glebe, Central Park
Friday, July 19th - Hintonburg, Hintonburg Park (*Rainspace available)
Saturday, July 20 - Westboro, Clare Gardens Park
Sunday, July 21 - 8 Locks Flat, Rideau Canal
Tuesday, July 23rd - Nepean, Steve MacLean Park
Wednesday, July 24th - Orleans, Hiawatha Park
Thursday, July 25th - South Keys, Pushman Park
Friday, July 26th - New Edinburgh, New Edinburgh/Stanley Park
Saturday, July 27 - Old Ottawa South, Windsor Park
Sunday, July 28 - Central Experimental Farm, Dominion Arboretum
Tuesday, July 30th - Civic, Reid Park
Wednesday, July 31st - Sandy Hill, Strathcona Park
Thursday, August 1st - Bells Corners, Lynwood Park
Friday, August 2nd - The Glebe, Central Park
Saturday, August 3rd - Nepean, Centrepointe Park
Sunday, August 4th - Kanata, Walter Baker Park
Wednesday, July 3rd - Alta Vista, Applewood Park
Opening Night
Thursday, July 4th - Ottawa City Hall, Lisgar Field
Friday, July 5th - Hintonburg, Hintonburg Park
Saturday, July 6th - Westboro, Iona Park
Sunday, July 7th - 8 Locks Flat, Rideau Canal
Tuesday, July 9th - Manotick, Dickinson Square (near Watson's Mill)
Wednesday, July 10th - Alta Vista, Weston Park
Thursday, July 11th - Old Ottawa South, Windsor Park
Friday, July 12th - Vanier, Richelieu Park
Saturday, July 13th - Kanata, Huntsman Park
Sunday - July 14th - Almonte Herb Garden
Tuesday, July 16th - Carlingwood West, Glabar Park
Wednesday, July 17th - Nepean, Briargreen Park
Thursday, July 18th - The Glebe, Central Park
Friday, July 19th - Hintonburg, Hintonburg Park (*Rainspace available)
Saturday, July 20 - Westboro, Clare Gardens Park
Sunday, July 21 - 8 Locks Flat, Rideau Canal
Tuesday, July 23rd - Nepean, Steve MacLean Park
Wednesday, July 24th - Orleans, Hiawatha Park
Thursday, July 25th - South Keys, Pushman Park
Friday, July 26th - New Edinburgh, New Edinburgh/Stanley Park
Saturday, July 27 - Old Ottawa South, Windsor Park
Sunday, July 28 - Central Experimental Farm, Dominion Arboretum
Tuesday, July 30th - Civic, Reid Park
Wednesday, July 31st - Sandy Hill, Strathcona Park
Thursday, August 1st - Bells Corners, Lynwood Park
Friday, August 2nd - The Glebe, Central Park
Saturday, August 3rd - Nepean, Centrepointe Park
Sunday, August 4th - Kanata, Walter Baker Park
Our Sponsor - The City Of Ottawa
Bear & Co. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the City of Ottawa.
The City of Ottawa is committed to fostering an environment in which arts development is valued and artists of all disciplines are supported in the creation of their work. Funding for arts and culture aims to spark the development of a vibrant, artistic city through funding programs based on a peer review process.
The City of Ottawa is committed to fostering an environment in which arts development is valued and artists of all disciplines are supported in the creation of their work. Funding for arts and culture aims to spark the development of a vibrant, artistic city through funding programs based on a peer review process.
The Production Team
Anna Lewis - Director / Costume and Props Designer
Anna Lewis is an Ottawa-based actor and creator with a BFA in Theatre from Concordia University. She has appeared most recently in Edmond and Tongue and Groove (Chamber Theatre Hintonburg), and Agnes of God (9th Hour). Last year at the Fringe, she played Annabella in Bear & Co.'s production of ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore. Other credits include As You Like It, and Momma’s Boy (Bear & Co), A Midwinter’s Dream Tale (A Company of Fools), and How (Not) to Kill the King, a one-woman show produced at the Winnipeg Fringe. Film credits include Happy Suds and the title character in Brown Sound Underground with Nona Leslie. Catch her this summer directing The Comedy of Errors in parks around Ottawa.
Will Somers - Production Manager / Set Designer
Will is an actor, director, creator, and reacher of things on high shelves based in Ottawa.
He has been a core company artist with Salamander Theatre, Eastern Ontario's biggest English language theatre for young audiences, where he has appeared in plays, brought workshops into schools, and goofed around (artistically) at summer camps. He has also taught with OYP Theatre School, where he has written, directed, or written/directed better than an dozen plays and short films with students by the dozen for four years. Acting credits include, Touchstone in As You Like It, Bergetto/Cardinal in 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, Jordan in Momma's Boy, Charlie in Windfall Jelly, Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, The John and Collage Man in The Mechanicsvile Monologues series, and a lead role in Amanda Sage's short film Bliss.
In contrast, Will's work as a director has taken him as far away from young audiences as you can imagine. In collaboration with Chamber Theatre Hintonburg, Will has directed Lee MacDougall's High Life, and staged Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago in a bar. He also recently directed Bear & Co.'s As You Like It.
He has been a core company artist with Salamander Theatre, Eastern Ontario's biggest English language theatre for young audiences, where he has appeared in plays, brought workshops into schools, and goofed around (artistically) at summer camps. He has also taught with OYP Theatre School, where he has written, directed, or written/directed better than an dozen plays and short films with students by the dozen for four years. Acting credits include, Touchstone in As You Like It, Bergetto/Cardinal in 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, Jordan in Momma's Boy, Charlie in Windfall Jelly, Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, The John and Collage Man in The Mechanicsvile Monologues series, and a lead role in Amanda Sage's short film Bliss.
In contrast, Will's work as a director has taken him as far away from young audiences as you can imagine. In collaboration with Chamber Theatre Hintonburg, Will has directed Lee MacDougall's High Life, and staged Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago in a bar. He also recently directed Bear & Co.'s As You Like It.
Eleanor Crowder - Director Mentor / Voice & Text Coach
Eleanor Crowder is a writer, director and actor. Ottawa audiences remember her Mother Courage for James Richardson and her Shrew for Peter Hinton.
Most of her work tours, playing school gyms, community halls, ruins and glorious found spaces. Her devising and writing runs from first impulse (Family Stories with Kate Grier, coming to a kitchen table near you) to grandscale (The Chinese Bowl, Murder at the Avalon and GleeBE, the Musical). Her most recent play, Momma’s Boy, plays intimacy with big theatre values.
Eleanor directed Bear & Co.'s 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, at the Ottawa Fringe in 2012 and most recently directed their production of The Taming Of The Shrew and Windfall Jelly. She appeared as twin Dukes in Bear & Co.'s As You Like It and appeared in, wrote and directed Momma's Boy.
The bio: Belfast, Kingston, Calgary, Sudan, Ottawa, experimental theatre, physical theatre, nationalist voices, popular theatre, theatre in education, as many risky experiments as a young family will allow. Outaouais Popular Theatre, theatre in action. Salamander Theatre. Asterisk Rising.
Most of her work tours, playing school gyms, community halls, ruins and glorious found spaces. Her devising and writing runs from first impulse (Family Stories with Kate Grier, coming to a kitchen table near you) to grandscale (The Chinese Bowl, Murder at the Avalon and GleeBE, the Musical). Her most recent play, Momma’s Boy, plays intimacy with big theatre values.
Eleanor directed Bear & Co.'s 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, at the Ottawa Fringe in 2012 and most recently directed their production of The Taming Of The Shrew and Windfall Jelly. She appeared as twin Dukes in Bear & Co.'s As You Like It and appeared in, wrote and directed Momma's Boy.
The bio: Belfast, Kingston, Calgary, Sudan, Ottawa, experimental theatre, physical theatre, nationalist voices, popular theatre, theatre in education, as many risky experiments as a young family will allow. Outaouais Popular Theatre, theatre in action. Salamander Theatre. Asterisk Rising.
The Cast
Brie Barker* - Merchant / The Abesse
Since moving to Ottawa in 2008, Brie has played the role of Baptista/Curtis in The Taming Of The Shrew and Florio in ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (Bear & Co.), Peter in the 2012 version of The Walk (Moondog Theatre), and Howie in Rabbit Hole (Gladstone Theatre). He also had a lead role in The Phoenix, by Ottawa filmmaker Carmello Zucco. Brie is Artistic Director of Peace Tower Playback Theatre (www.peacetowerplayback.ca), and has been a faculty member of the Ottawa Theatre School and an instructor with the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. Brie currently designs and delivers learning and development programs for clients in government, business, and non-profit organizations through his company Creative Presence (www.creativepresence.ca). Brie attended Queen’s University and Ryerson Theatre School, and holds a B.A. in Creative Arts/Theatre from York University.
David Benedict Brown - Visiting Dromio
David thanks Bear and Co. for this great role in a fun and fast Shakespeare script. Recent theatre credits: Die Zombie, Die, Bat Boy The Musical, Clue...Less and Crime and Punishment. Recent television credits: Fringe (JJ Abrams), RL Stine's: The Haunting Hour (Peter DeLuise) and a bunch of silly commercials. Get ready for some fast paced cowboy Shakespeare!
Leslie Cserepy - Merchant / The Abesse
Born in Yellowknife, NWT, Leslie Cserepy has been a part of the Ottawa theatre scene for about 4 years now. He is a graduate of the Algonquin Theatre Arts Program, and has worked on various shows throughout the city such as A MIDWINTER'S DREAM TALE (Company of Fools) EDMOND and THE MECHANICSVILLE MONOLOGUES (Chamber Theatre) TAMING OF THE SHREW and ROMEO AND JULIET (Both at Kanata Theatre) THE DANGER PROJECT for May Can Theatre and THE CRACKWALKER (The Meus Productions/Hollywood Fringe Festival).
Leslie previously played Oliver / Oliver Mar-Text in Bear & Co's As You Like It and Friar Bonaventura in Bear & Co's 'Tis Pity She's A Whore at the 2012 Ottawa Fringe Festival.
Leslie previously played Oliver / Oliver Mar-Text in Bear & Co's As You Like It and Friar Bonaventura in Bear & Co's 'Tis Pity She's A Whore at the 2012 Ottawa Fringe Festival.
Rachel Eugster* - Luciana
An actor and lyric soprano, Rachel Eugster is comfortable in a wide range of musical and theatrical genres. South of the border, she originated leads in a musical comedy adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the Arthurian drama Avalon; and Conventional Behavior, a send-up of science fiction conventions.
In Ottawa, Rachel has appeared in The Walk (Moon Dog Productions), in Momma’s Boy at the 2011 Fringe Festival, in the Gladstone’s Farndale Christmas Carol, in Windfall Jelly at the 2013 Fringe, and as soprano soloist with various choirs and orchestras. Rachel has served as music director for Salamander Shakespeare Co. and GNAG Theatre, and is an artist in residence at Parkdale United Church. Rachel also appeared as Putana in Bear & Co.'s 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, where she also served as music director. Rachel was also music director for their production of As You Like It, and The Taming Of The Shrew.
Rachel trained with Wayne Conner at the Peabody Conservatory (Master of Music, Applied Voice), and with Mary Burgess at Marlboro College (Honors BA, Music and Theater). She also holds an AFTRA Conservatory Certificate.
In Ottawa, Rachel has appeared in The Walk (Moon Dog Productions), in Momma’s Boy at the 2011 Fringe Festival, in the Gladstone’s Farndale Christmas Carol, in Windfall Jelly at the 2013 Fringe, and as soprano soloist with various choirs and orchestras. Rachel has served as music director for Salamander Shakespeare Co. and GNAG Theatre, and is an artist in residence at Parkdale United Church. Rachel also appeared as Putana in Bear & Co.'s 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, where she also served as music director. Rachel was also music director for their production of As You Like It, and The Taming Of The Shrew.
Rachel trained with Wayne Conner at the Peabody Conservatory (Master of Music, Applied Voice), and with Mary Burgess at Marlboro College (Honors BA, Music and Theater). She also holds an AFTRA Conservatory Certificate.
Michelle LeBlanc - Local and Visting Antipholus
A graduate of the Ottawa Theatre School, Michelle’s theatre credits include: In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) (SameDay); How It Works (Plosive); Absurd Person Singular, The Communication Cord, The Good Father (SevenThirty); How the Other Half Loves, Noises Off; It’s A Wonderful Life: The Radio Show (Gladstone); Blood Relations (Ottawa University). She has also worked two years full-time with Dramamuse, once the resident theatre company at the soon to be renamed Canadian Museum of Civilization and Eddie May Murder Mysteries. Her film and television credits include: Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays (CBC), Bullet in the Face (IFC), “Together, we can find a child/Ensemble, nous pouvons retrouver un enfant”, a public service announcement by Parktown Productions. She is an Outstanding Performance nominee (2012) and an Emerging Artist recipient (2007) at the Prix Rideau Awards.
Anna Lewis - The Courtesan / Luce
Anna Lewis is an Ottawa-based actor and creator with a BFA in Theatre from Concordia University. She has appeared most recently in Edmond and Tongue and Groove (Chamber Theatre Hintonburg), and Agnes of God (9th Hour). She recently appeared as Jocelyn in Bear & Co.'s Windfall Jelly, and Annabella in Bear & Co.'s production of ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore. Other credits include As You Like It, and Momma’s Boy (Bear & Co), A Midwinter’s Dream Tale (A Company of Fools), and How (Not) to Kill the King, a one-woman show produced at the Winnipeg Fringe. Film credits include Happy Suds and the title character in Brown Sound Underground with Nona Leslie.
Tim Oberholzer - Egeon / Friendly Merchant / Angelo / Pinch
Tim Oberholzer is an Ottawa-based actor, theatre creator and graduate of Algonquin College's Theatre Arts Program.
Tim has appeared locally in Windfall Jelly, The Taming Of The Shrew, As You Like It and 'Tis Pity She's A Whore (Bear & Co.), The Vanity Project (Vanity Project Productions), Batboy: The Musical (Blacksheep Theatre), The Communication Cord, I Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell and A Flea In Her Ear (Seventhirty Productions), Miracle on 34th Street: The Radio Show, Cyrano De Bergerac and The Shadow: A Christmas Mysteries Radio Show (Plosive Productions), The Radio Show: It's A Wonderful Life (Gladstone Productions), Othello (Salamander Shakespeare Co.), The Curse Of The Pekinese Peregrine, Showbiz is Murder and Murder in the First DeGlee (Eddie May Mysteries) and Tongue and Groove and Mechanicsville Monologues 2 (Chamber Theatre Hintonburg).
In August he can be seen touring Ottawa Parks as Cyrano De Bergerac in The Chronicler (Screaming Artist), and at the Gladstone Theatre in April 2014 in Hedwig And The Angry Inch (Vanity Project Productions) .
Tim has appeared locally in Windfall Jelly, The Taming Of The Shrew, As You Like It and 'Tis Pity She's A Whore (Bear & Co.), The Vanity Project (Vanity Project Productions), Batboy: The Musical (Blacksheep Theatre), The Communication Cord, I Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell and A Flea In Her Ear (Seventhirty Productions), Miracle on 34th Street: The Radio Show, Cyrano De Bergerac and The Shadow: A Christmas Mysteries Radio Show (Plosive Productions), The Radio Show: It's A Wonderful Life (Gladstone Productions), Othello (Salamander Shakespeare Co.), The Curse Of The Pekinese Peregrine, Showbiz is Murder and Murder in the First DeGlee (Eddie May Mysteries) and Tongue and Groove and Mechanicsville Monologues 2 (Chamber Theatre Hintonburg).
In August he can be seen touring Ottawa Parks as Cyrano De Bergerac in The Chronicler (Screaming Artist), and at the Gladstone Theatre in April 2014 in Hedwig And The Angry Inch (Vanity Project Productions) .
Alexis Scott - Adriana
Alexis is thrilled to be touring parks this summer with Bear & Co. in her dream role as Adriana. Alexis has been involved in the theatre her whole life. Early memories of her mom’s sewing table piled high with costumes for the next up and coming community theatre play remind her of how it all began in her home town of Perth. Recent theatre credits include: Apollo in Eumenides (OTS directed by Jodi Essery), Ada Lovelace in False Assumptions (OTS/Plosve directed by Teri Lorretto-Valentik), Jean Lobb in The Farm Show (OTS directed by Andy Massingham ) and Suzy in Jelly Belly directed (OTS directed by Lib Spry). Alexis is a proud graduate of the Ottawa Theatre School and also studied acting at the University of Windsor.
Will Somers - The Mayor
Will is an actor, director, creator, and reacher of things on high shelves based in Ottawa.
He has been a core company artist with Salamander Theatre, Eastern Ontario's biggest English language theatre for young audiences, where he has appeared in plays, brought workshops into schools, and goofed around (artistically) at summer camps. He has also taught with OYP Theatre School, where he has written, directed, or written/directed better than an dozen plays and short films with students by the dozen for four years. Acting credits include, Touchstone in As You Like It, Bergetto/Cardinal in 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, Jordan in Momma's Boy, Charlie in Windfall Jelly, Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, The John and Collage Man in The Mechanicsvile Monologues series, and a lead role in Amanda Sage's short film Bliss.
In contrast, Will's work as a director has taken him as far away from young audiences as you can imagine. In collaboration with Chamber Theatre Hintonburg, Will has directed Lee MacDougall's High Life, and staged Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago in a bar. He also recently directed Bear & Co.'s As You Like It.
He has been a core company artist with Salamander Theatre, Eastern Ontario's biggest English language theatre for young audiences, where he has appeared in plays, brought workshops into schools, and goofed around (artistically) at summer camps. He has also taught with OYP Theatre School, where he has written, directed, or written/directed better than an dozen plays and short films with students by the dozen for four years. Acting credits include, Touchstone in As You Like It, Bergetto/Cardinal in 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, Jordan in Momma's Boy, Charlie in Windfall Jelly, Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, The John and Collage Man in The Mechanicsvile Monologues series, and a lead role in Amanda Sage's short film Bliss.
In contrast, Will's work as a director has taken him as far away from young audiences as you can imagine. In collaboration with Chamber Theatre Hintonburg, Will has directed Lee MacDougall's High Life, and staged Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago in a bar. He also recently directed Bear & Co.'s As You Like It.
David Whiteley - Local Dromio
David is delighted to Dromio it with the other David in the company of the Bear. No stranger to playing Shakespeare out of doors and in parks, David has performed in going on a dozen outdoor Shakespeare productions, previously with a Company of Fools and St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival. He has also directed three of the bard's plays himself, most recently the Fools' Antony and Cleopatra. He is often seen working at The Gladstone as actor, director and sometimes even translator (and didn't he do a set design recently too?). Be sure to catch him there as Elyot opposite Alix Sideris as Amanda in Private Lives at The Gladstone next September.
*This is a Canadian Actors' Equity Association Production under the Artists' Collective Policy.