MONMOUTH — In a delightfully clever staging of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” the Theater at Monmouth proves once again that the Bard’s works hold pure enjoyment for its audiences.

This fast-moving farce has a complicated plot of multiple mistaken identities, missing money and all kinds of rowdy comedy that everyone can understand without the slightest pre-knowledge of Shakespearean speech. It’s all completely understandable as the action unfolds.

“The Comedy of Errors” is the perfect introduction to the several plays that TAM will present in rotating repertory during its 41st season at beautiful and historic Cumston Hall.

The stage is a sunny city square on a Mediterranean island, with the time period moved from the Elizabethan era to the 1950s. The cast as a whole must be credited with making this play such fun for everyone. The stage is continually erupting with broad humor and pure slapstick that keeps the play moving and clearly conveys meanings of speeches for people who can’t quite get a handle on Shakespearean style.

This production is directed by Curt L. Tofteland. It’s his first show for TAM, but he has 33 years of professional theater experience. He founded the internationally acclaimed “Shakespeare Behind Bars” program, and if he can succeed with audiences of prison inmates, there’s no doubt he knows exactly how to deliver Shakespeare’s works in a totally accessible and entertaining manner.

At Monmouth, Tofteland has given importance and meaning to every actor and every corner of the stage throughout every minute of “The Comedy of Errors.” Several actors deserve credit for outstanding work in the production, but it’s the overall accomplishments of the entire company that audiences will remember.

“The Comedy of Errors” opens with a couple of long speeches by the city’s duke and a merchant condemned to death. Through use of shadows on a screen at the back of the stage, the audiences sees images of a storm-tossed ship and the separation of a family’s twin boys and twin servants. Even without words, the scene is set for the play’s coming confusions.

Soon, the stage is filled with the town’s inhabitants. The twin sons of the doomed merchant, as well as their twin servants, arrive in the same town, unknown to each other, which leads to hilarious misunderstandings among the unwitting men, the wife of one and various characters, including a goldsmith, courtesan and conjurer.

Every line of dialogue seems to be quickly mirrored in the reactions of actors all around the stage. It provides excellent help in understanding the complex plot developments, and it’s a lot of fun watching.

The lead characters, twins each named Antipholus, are played by Dustin Tucker and Torsten hillhouse. The two servants are portrayed by J.H. Smith III and Mike Anthony. They all give mile-a-minute performances loaded with laughs.

Annie Rubino is excellent as Adriana, wife of one of the twins. She storms through endless frustrations in trying to sort out who’s the real husband and why the servant never knows what she’s talking about.

Brian Bell plays Bathasar. It’s a role with little dialogue until late in the play, but he is on stage almost all the time, and it’s impossible to keep your eyes off him. At close to 7 feet tall, he commands attention, and he is also delightful to watch as he sits with a collection of bells, whistles and tambourines with which he continually punctuates the comedic action.

At the beginning and at the end, Gene D’Alessandro presents the more dramatic characterization of the play as Egeon, father of the separated twins. His appearances are very effective.

With the decision to set this play in the 1950s, there’s an excuse for the cast to provide some intermission and curtain-call fun with some songs including “Under the Boardwalk” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh).”

“The Comedy of Errors” is one of Shakespeare’s earliest and shortest plays. In his director’s notes, Tofteland emphasizes that it is pure farce and he explains that this comedy is best enjoyed by “suspending your disbelief, setting aside your logical left brain, returning to your childhood, and entering our fantastical world equipped with only your vivid imagination.”

“The Comedy of Errors” can be seen at least once a week at the Theatre at Monmouth through August. It is performed in rotation with “Is He Dead?” “Misalliance” and “Pericles, Prince of Tyre,” as well as afternoon shows of “The Canterville Ghost,” aimed at children.

Go and do

WHAT: “The Comedy of Errors”

WHEN: In repertory July 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 22 & 28; and Aug. 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15 & 21; evening shows at 7:30, matinees at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Theater at Monmouth at Cumston Hall, Monmouth

TICKETS: $24/adults; $22/seniors & matinees; $20/students

MORE INFO: Call 933-9999 or visit www.theateratmonmouth.org