"Errors" aplenty

Come summer, I never seem to be able to leave Shakespeare festival-related news for very long, particularly not when presented with what can only be described as festival oddities.

I've now told you about two "As You Like It"s, and a trio of "Taming of the Shrews." Well, what's a summer, I always say, without a bunch of Dromios and Antipholi.

OK, I would never always say that.

Two productions of "The Comedy of Errors," arguably Shakespeare's dippiest comedy (two sets of twins, masters and servants, each with the same names) will be here. Their appearance will prove conclusively that pretty much anybody can label anything a "festival" if the term sells.

Which apparently it does in, gulp, Frazier Park California where "Errors" will run in rotating rep with "You Can't Take It With You" at the third annual Mountain Shakespeare Festival.

This from the Mountainshakes pitchperson: "Mountain Shakespeare Festival was founded by experienced theatre professionals and it is rapidly achieving their goal of creating a prestigious and entertaining festival similar to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. "

Ambitions are well and good, but I have been to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and I have been to Frazier Park (although not to the Mountain Shakespeare Fest). Good bloody luck.

Does two plays a festival make? Apparently so at the Pine Mountain Club were visitors are invited to drink in the mountain air and recreational amenities along with their Bard cultcha starting Jul 5 and running through July. www.Mountainshakes.org or call (661) 242-6904.

I promised two "Errors." The second arrives at -- ta-dah!-- the Open Fist Shakespeare Festival in Hollywood July 12 in a production directed by Ron West. For the fest, West also directs _ and scripts _ a new musical comedy "deLEARious" somewhat inspired by that laugh riot "King Lear."

Here's the description: "Ron and Phil, two composers in Los Angeles, are writing about King James I and Shakespeare, who are writing about the legendary King Lear. Phil gets sick of Ron's laziness and womanizing; King James gets sick of Shakespeare and demotes him to working on the Bible; and King Lear gets sick of everyone and goes crazy. Hilarity ensues. And, believe it or not, in this version, there's a happy ending."

Uh, right.

Well, "deLEARious" and "Errors" run in repertory which apparently makes this, yep, another Shakespeare Festival.

(323) 882-6912, www.openfist.org