Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Comedy of Errors
1. The theater was Drayton Hall and is classified under a Proscenium Arch Stage. The theater was large, but not huge. However, there was a good bit of seating. The stage was quite large as well. The set was very bright and had many "buildings." It was as if it was a little village and there were about 4 two story walk-ups. The set was very lit and happy. The costumes were outrageous and very colorful and funny. It was a crazy mixture of colors and patterns put together into one. Also, every actors hair was a crazy color. This was very entertaining to watch.
2. The place is supposed to take place in the Ancient Greek period in Ephesus, Greece. The author is William Shakespeare. Shakespeare lived in the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, also known as the Renaissance. He lived from 1564-1616, but his works are still a huge part of our society.
3. The plot of this play is very complex and confusing. Egeon, a father of twins and husband, lost one of his sons and his wife in a shipwreck about 25 years ago. Egeon is on a search for that son and his wife. He is now a merchant in Syracuse and he is traveling but gets into trouble because he violates a law about traveling between rival cities. At the same time, the twin that has been living with Egeon is on a search for his other half as well. The Duke lets Egeon raise a thousand-mark ransom for saving his life. We learn that each twin is identical and each has an identical slave named Dromio. Unknown to Egeon, the lost twin, Antipholus of Syracuse, is visiting Ephesus. Adriana, Antipholus of Ephesus' wife, mistakenly drags Antipholus of Syracuse into her home for dinner and places Dromio of Syracuse at the door to not let anyone enter. Meanwhile, Antipholus of Ephesus comes back home and is denied at the door. Inside, Antipholus of Syracuse falls in love with Adriana's sister, Luciana, and she is appalled by her thought to be "brother-in-law's" behavior. It becomes even more complex when a gold chain is accidentally given to Antipholus of Syracuse, when it was really ordered by the other twin. Antipholus of Ephesus refuses to pay for the chain since he "never received it," and is taken to jail for debt. His wife thinks he has gone crazy so she orders him to be held in the cellar room. Antipholus of Syracuse and his slave decide to flee the city because they feel it is enchanted but they run into Adriana and the debt officer so they refuge in an abbey. Adriana begs the Duke to remove her "husband" from the abbey and into her custody. Her real husband has broken out of jail and goes to the duke to level charges with his wife. The whole story is figured out by the Abbess, Emilia, who brings out the set of twins and reveals herself as the lost wife of Egeon. Antipholus of Ephesus makes amends with Adriana. Egeon is let go by the Duke and is reunited with his wife. Antipholus of Syracuse continues courtship of Luciana. And all is well with the two Dromios hugging.
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