RICH, YOUNG AND THIN : ‘Comedy of Errors’: Camino Real Playhouse’s comedy about the mix-ups around two sets of twins confuses superficiality for lightness.

Camino Real Playhouse’s annual nod to Shakespeare by the Sea has moved inland to a small park next door to the playhouse. It’s a simple outdoor affair with folding chairs and picnic tables.

This summer the fare is “The Comedy of Errors,” a tale of mix-ups between twin brothers and their twin servants. Director Tom Scott has opted for a sort of commedia dell’arte staging, similar to those wandering street performances of bygone days, with a canvas thrown up for a backdrop and players entering through the audience. It’s a charming idea, and for the most part Scott’s idea works.

The scenery consists of six large blocks, painted differently on each side, that can be rearranged to hint at the locale. But it takes the stage manager and cast an awfully long time to do the rearranging between scenes. And Kimberly Krone’s costumes are eclectic and anachronistic, some totally from the imagination.

Scott keeps things moving, not worrying too much about subtext or deep characterization, which is fine for commedia style. But he seems to have left many of his actors to their own designs. Though surface readings in this genre are acceptable, the actors must avoid overboard emoting where unwarranted by the text.

Bruce Alexander’s Solinus is too overblown and outrageous for the staid Duke of Syracuse. Norman Cleary’s wispy goldsmith Angelo, who sells a gold necklace to one twin and then expects the other to pay, is formless and, like most of the supporting cast, without much understanding of the reading of Shakespeare’s lines.

“The Comedy of Errors” can withstand a weak supporting company if the principals make the grade, and that almost happens here. If Rikki Rozel’s Antipholus of Ephesus is blatantly histrionic and sometimes dull, Dustin Lorentz’s Antipholus of Syracuse is clever and inventive; he has an innate sense of comedy. William Tanner’s Dromio is a delight, just as inventive as his master, and adept at physical comedy. David Mendell’s Dromio of Ephesus also has his moments, but his comedy seems forced.

Janet Lee as Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, and Kristin Moffitt as her sister, Luciana, are both excellent, natural and effective in difficult roles. BJ Scott is effective as the Abbess Emilia.

* “The Comedy of Errors,” Shakespeare by the Sea, Town Center Park, San Juan Capistrano. Fridays-Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Ends July 27. $10 (tickets at the theater, 31776 El Camino Real). (714) 489-8082. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.

Dustin Lorentz: Antipholus of Syracuse

Rikki Rozel: Antipholus of Ephesus

William Tanner: Dromio of Syracuse

David Mendell: Dromio of Ephesus

Janet Lee: Adriana

Kristin Moffitt: Luciana

BJ Scott: Abbess Emilia

Bruce Alexander: Solinus

Norman Cleary: Angelo

A Camino Real Playhouse production of Shakespeare’s comedy. Produced by Ryan Maddux. Lighting design/directed by Tom Scott. Scenic design: Don Alexander, Annette Lear. Sound design: Brian Lau. Costumes: Kimberly Krone. Stage manager: Maddux.