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