Second Thought's Bomb-itty of Errors: Big on Errors, Light on Laughs

Dromio and Antipholus of Ephesus have long-lost identical twin brothers named Dromio and Antipholus (they live in Syracuse). The two sets of servants and masters collide in Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. Second Thought Theatre ends its eighth season this weekend with the final performances of its spoof of the play called Bomb-itty of Errors.

Instead of being packed with comedy, however, it's rife with errors.

Amy Corcoran directed the noisy, overwrought evening -- basically 80 minutes of rhymed couplets set to a throbbing hip-hop beat.

Actor Zac Kelty, on loan from Australia's Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, plays Dromio of Ephesus as a loud buffoon; he looks like Chris Farley, jelly belly and all. Joseph Holt is better as his master, Antipholus, looking at bit like Balki from Perfect Strangers. Drew Wall and Dallas Theater Center actor Steven Walters, who co-wrote the original score with Heath Gage, play the boys from Syracuse. The script and concept are by Jordan Allen-Dutton, Jason Catalano, GQ and Erik Weiner.

The four men work themselves to a froth clowning and yelling as they rumble on and off the scaffolding set up as scenery on the tiny Bryant Hall stage. The show is paced at a sprint, so actors and audience are soon exhausted by the blur of bodies bobbing to the same repetitive beat as the theme to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Four white guys donning dreadlocks, affecting Puerto Rican accents, making jokes about Jews and "yo Mama" and attempting crude drag just drag the whole thing down. Crude bathroom references don't help. The line "I've got a wicked fudge monkey in the on-deck circle" will have no competition as the ickiest thing uttered on a Dallas stage this season.

Bomb-itty of Errors continues through July 22 at Second Thought Theatre at Kalita Humphreys Theater. Call 866-811-4111.