What a Bunch of Characters

Mistaken identity is a common theme in Shakespeare’s plays. In Comedy of Errors, the Bard ratchets up the chaos by introducing two sets of identical twins, identically named.

Antipholus and his twin, Antipholus - see, this is getting confusing already - are separated by a disaster at sea. They end up in different locations, thinking the other has drowned. The twins each have a servant, also twins, both named Dromio.

One Antipholus lives in Syracuse. The other in Ephesus.

Rounding out the twin’s family is the father, Egeon of Syracuse, who in his search for the lost twin, Antipholus…not that one, the other one…has come to Ephesus. The matriarch of the family, Emilia, also thought to have been lost at sea, makes a dramatic appearance during the play and tries to sort everything out.

Solinus is the Duke of Ephesus. He condemns Egeon to death in the very first scene only to be moved by Egeon’s sad tale of his separated (and confusing) family.

Also in the cast of players are Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Syracuse, Luciana, her sister and Luce the kitchen maid.

Adding to the confusion - and fun - are a group of characters who get caught up in the mistaken identities. Balthazar is a prominent Ephesusian merchant. Angelo is the goldsmith. Doctor Pinch is a conjuring schoolmaster.

It would be helpful if all the characters wore name tags, but Shakespeare would have none of that - besides name tags hadn’t been invented in the 1590s. The audience will just have to pay close attention and like the characters, struggle to keep everyone straight. And that’s where the fun in Comedy of Errors begins.

The Charlotte Shakespeare Festival (www.charlotteshakespeare.com) presents Comedy of Errors under the stars on The Green Uptown from June 3-20. Admission is free. Bring a blanket, food and drink and come early to enjoy Festivities, the special pre-show entertainment.

Next Post: Rehearsals begin and meet the actors

Comedy of Errors…Expect the Unexpected.

Comedy of Errors is one of the Bard’s most farcical, full of slapstick, puns, word play and mistaken identity.

Last summer, the Charlotte Shakespeare Festival produced, Twelfth Night, which featured identical twins separated during a storm at sea. When both arrive at the same city, hilarious confusion ensues.

In Comedy of Errors, the confusion doubles as Shakespeare introduces the audience to two sets of identical twin brothers. Creating even more chaos, the two sets of brothers share the same names: the gentlemen, Antipholus and their servants, Dromio.

When Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse journey to Ephesus, home of their long lost twins, the other Antipholus and Dromio, wild mishaps multiply. Mistaken identities lead to wrongful beatings, a near-seduction, an arrest, theft, madness, accusations of infidelity and demonic possession.

As the play races at breakneck speed toward the final act, the audience will wonder: How can the Bard bring order to all the comical disorder? Before the curtain falls, there’s a surprise appearance by a long-lost spouse, a gold chain claimed by several people, a “spherical” kitchen maid, an exorcism and a commuted death sentence, just in the nick of time.

Director Joe Copley has a few tricks up his sleeve regarding set design, costumes and music.

“The tone I want to set for the show is catchy, up-tempo and fun, almost wacky - but not quite,” explains Copley. “This will be a very physical show, with lots and lots of sight gags, punctuated by music. Some of gags will occur between scenes, with no dialogue, to move the story along - and get some laughs.”

The Charlotte Shakespeare Festival (www.charlotteshakespeare.com) presents Comedy of Errors under the stars on The Green Uptown from June 3-20. Admission is free. Bring a blanket, food and drink and come early to enjoy Festivities, the special pre-show entertainment.

Next Post: The Characters