The character of Angelo in The Comedy of Errors from LitCharts | The creators of SparkNotes Luciana A goldsmith who makes a gold necklace for Antipholus of Ephesus. He mistakenly gives the necklace to Antipholus of Syracuse and then asks for payment from Antipholus of Ephesus. When this Antipholus denies having received the necklace, Angelo and the merchant (to whom Angelo owes money) have Antipholus of Ephesus arrested. Angelo Quotes in The Comedy of Errors The The Comedy of Errors quotes below are all either spoken by Angelo or refer to Angelo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). Note: all page and citation info for the quotes below refers to the Simon & Schuster edition of The Comedy of Errors published in 2005. Act 3, Scene 2 Quotes Master Antipholus,— Download it! Angelo Character Timeline in The Comedy of Errors The timeline below shows where the character Angelo appears in The Comedy of Errors. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Act 3, Scene 1 Near his house, Antipholus of Ephesus is conversing with his servant Dromio, a goldsmith named Angelo, and a merchant named Balthazar. He tells Angelo that he must leave because his wife... (full context) ...wench of excellent discourse” he knows, about whom his wife has “upbraided” him. He tells Angelo to meet him later with the necklace he has ordered. (full context) Act 3, Scene 2 ...that he loves Luciana and says she has almost enchanted him with her “mermaid’s song.” Angelo enters and gives Antipholus the necklace that Antipholus of Ephesus had ordered. Antipholus of Syracuse... (full context) Act 4, Scene 1 In Ephesus, a merchant tells Angelo that he owes him money, and that since he is leaving for Persia soon, he... (full context) ...can give it to his wife for locking him out of his home. Dromio leaves. Angelo gives Antipholus a bill for the gold chain he ordered and asks for his payment... (full context) Angelo is confused, and asks if Antipholus has the chain.

Antipholus says he does not, and... (full context) Act 4, Scene 4 Adriana learns that Antipholus owes money for a chain that Angelo made. The courtesan adds that Antipholus took her ring and that she has seen him... (full context) Act 5, Scene 1 Angelo apologizes to the merchant for making him wait for his money. He says that Antipholus... (full context) ...wife shut him out of his own house. Adriana and Luciana both deny this, but Angelo says that he saw it happen. (full context) ...summarizes what has happened to him: his wife locked him out of his home; then, Angelo did not deliver him his gold chain, so he went to find him and Angelo... (full context) Angelo says that Antipholus was indeed locked out from dinner, but insists that he gave Antipholus... (full context) ...that she knows he is not her brother-in-law, he would like to pursue her love. Angelo sees his chain on Antipholus of Syracuse, and Antipholus of Syracuse also produces the bail... (full context) Cite This Page Choose citation style: Fredericksen, Erik.

"The Comedy of Errors Characters: Angelo." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 3 Apr 2014. Web. 19 Jan 2017. Fredericksen, Erik. "The Comedy of Errors Characters: Angelo." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 3 Apr 2014. Web. 19 Jan 2017. Fredericksen, Erik. "The Comedy of Errors Characters: Angelo." LitCharts LLC, April 3, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2017. Fredericksen, Erik. "The Comedy of Errors Characters: Angelo." LitCharts LLC, April 3, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2017. Copy to Clipboard Characters: The Comedy of Errors — Utah Shakespeare Festival Characters: The Comedy of Errors Characters: The Comedy of Errors Solinus, duke of Ephesus: Functioning mainly as a sympathetic ear allowing Egeon’s story to be told, Solinus is a noble and compassionate duke, but one who also believes that law must be followed, thus prompting his condemnation of Egeon.

Egeon: A merchant from Syracuse, Egeon is the father of twin boys (both named Antipholus) and the husband of Emilia. He is sentenced to death for venturing into the enemy city of Ephesus while looking for his lost son. In the end, however, he is reunited with his entire family. Antipholus of Ephesus: The son of Solinus and Emilia and twin brother of Antipholus of Syracuse, this Antipholus, after being separated from his father and brother in a shipwreck, ends up in Ephesus where he has become an established citizen. Antipholus of Syracuse: The son of Solinus and Emilia and twin brother of Antipholus of Ephesus, this Antipholus ended up with his father after the shipwreck, but has recently set out looking for his lost twin, which eventually brings him to Ephesus. Dromio of Ephesus: The slave of Antipholus of Ephesus and twin of Dromio of Syracuse, this Dromio lives a melancholy life with his master in Ephesus.

Dromio of Syracuse: The slave of Antipholus of Syracuse and twin of Dromio of Ephesus, this Dromio is traveling with his master when the play begins. Balthazar: A merchant Angelo: A goldsmith, Balthazar has been commissioned to make a gold chain for Antipholus of Syracuse to give to his wife, Adriana. He delivers the chain to the wrong Antipholus, thus drawing him into the complications caused by the mistaken identities. First Merchant: A friend of Antipholus of Syracuse. Second Merchant Pinch: A schoolmaster, Pinch is a quack proto-psychiatrist who administers to Antipholus of Ephesus by suggesting that he and his slave be bound and laid in some dark room to exorcise the “fiend” within them. He is the only one of the characters left out of the happy resolution at the end of the play. Emilia: The long-lost wife of Egeon, Emilia became an abbess at Ephesus after the shipwreck.

She offers refuge to her Syracusan son without knowing who he is, then, at the end of the play, reveals her true identity and takes part in the reunion of the entire family. Adriana: Wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, Adriana mistakes Antipholus of Syracuse as her husband and becomes confused when he reacts to her love with astonishment. Luciana: Adriana’s unmarried sister, Luciana is full of advice about a wife’s obligation to be patient. Luce: The wife of Dromio of Ephesus and servant of Adriana, Luce is also called Nell. × Bluff Your Way Through the Play: The Comedy of Errors | Seattle Shakespeare Company You are here: Home / News / Bluff Your Way Through the Play: The Comedy of Errors Bluff Your Way Through the Play: The Comedy of Errors August 31, 2015 By Jeff Fickes Applause for Plautus Shakespeare didn’t invent mistaken identity gags, he just improved upon them. He borrowed the idea of twin brothers separated at birth from the Roman playwright Plautus’s play Menaechmi.

Shakespeare ups the ante by adding in a second set of twins to add to the bedlam. Tick, Tock… Shakespeare uses the concept of time to up the stakes in this play. The play takes place during the course of a single day (the only other play in the canon to do that is The Tempest). Threatened with death at the start of the play Egeon (the twins’ father) has to come up with ransom money in just a few hours. There are more references to time – time quickly running out – than in any of Shakespeare’s other plays. Short and Sweet This is Shakespeare’s only play with the word “comedy” in the title. It is also his briefest play with just a little over 1900 total lines (depending on which edition you use). Craft-A-Laugh This play is expertly structured. Shakespeare plays with the theme of mistaken identity in nearly every scene. It’s kind of amazing how many variations he’s able to create. Each layer of mayhem builds upon the one before it until it bursts into a grand finale. Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood? The Comedy of Errors is one of the few plays by Shakespeare that is populated with almost entirely middle-class characters.

It gives us glimpse into the workings of a town filled with merchants, jewelers, courtesans, law enforcement, and clergy. A Mobius Strip of Twins Films, operas, musicals, literary works have all taken inspiration from this play. The 1938 Rodgers and Hart musical The Boys from Syracuse was inspired by The Comedy of Errors. The Lily Tomlin/Bette Midler film Big Business also borrows liberally from the play. Stranger than Fiction Recently, there was a feature in The New York Times about two sets of identical twins, mixed up and separated at birth, who accidentally learned about each other and met for the first time as adults. Read The Mixed Up Brothers of Bogota. Who’s Who Egeon, a merchant from Syracuse Antipholus of Syracuse Dromio of Syracuse, attendant to Antipholus of Syracuse Dromio of Ephesus, attendant to Antipholus of Ephesus Adriana, wife to Antipholus of Ephesus Luciana, Adriana’s sister Doctor Pinch, a schoolmaster and exorcist Courtesan Emilia, an abbess from Ephesus What’s the Story?

Egeon, a merchant of Syracuse, has twin sons both named Antipholus, to whom he has given twin servants both called Dromio. The family is split up in a shipwreck in which Egeon’s wife and one of each of the sets of twins is lost. Some years later, Antipholus of Syracuse sets out with Dromio of Syracuse to find their lost brothers. When the play opens, master and servant have landed in Ephesus. Egeon has also arrived there following a long and fruitless search of his own for his lost wife and son. Syracuse is at war with Ephesus, and Egeon finds himself under arrest and condemned to death if he does not raise a substantial ransom by the end of the day. The lost Antipholus and the lost Dromio are also in Ephesus, where they have lived for some years after the shipwreck. So the whole family with the exception of Egeon’s wife is now, unbeknownst to one another, all in the same city at the same time. With everyone in Ephesus, it is not long before each Dromio runs into the other Antiphoulus.

And since no one knows to whom he is talking, the relationships become hopelessly entangled. Antipholus of Ephesus is married to Adriana, whom he appears to neglect. Antipholus of Syracuse is mistaken by Adriana for her husband, and to make things worse, he shows an interest in Adriana’s sister, Luciana. And Luciana is horrified that her sister’s husband is trying to make love to her. This wild romp of mistaken identities leads to a dinner with the wrong husband, the arrest of one of the Antipholus brothers for insanity and debt, the execution of Egeon, and the arrival, in the nick of time, of an abbess who turns out to be his long-lost wife. In the end, all parties are brought together, including the two sets of twins, and day’s adventures are unraveled. Antipholus of Syracuse renews his interest in Luciana. Egeon is pardoned, and Adriana and her husband are reconciled. Everyone gets what they want, including the Dromios, who are reunited.

You Heard It Here First The following words and phrases appeared in print for the first time in The Comedy of Errors ‘Tis high time Research Paper on Literature: Shakespeare. Essays, Term Papers on William Shakespeare Essay, Research Paper: William Shakespeare Literature: Shakespeare Free Literature: Shakespeare research papers were donated by our members/visitors and are presented free of charge for informational use only. The essay or term paper you are seeing on this page was not produced by our company and should not be considered a sample of our research/writing service. We are neither affiliated with the author of this essay nor responsible for its content. If you need high quality, fresh and competent research / writing done on the subject of Literature: Shakespeare, use the professional writing service offered by our company. William Shakespeare, English playwright and poet recognized in much of the world as the greatest of all dramatists. Shakespeare’s plays communicate a profound knowledge of human behavior, revealed through portrayals of a wide variety of characters.

His use of poetic and dramatic means to create a unified artistic effect out of several vocal expressions and actions is recognized as a singular achievement, and his use of poetry within his plays to express the deepest levels of human motivation in individual, social, and universal situations is considered one of the greatest accomplishments in literary history. William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon. No knows the exact date of William’s birth, although we do know that he was baptized on Wednesday, April 26, 1564. His father was John Shakespeare, tanner, glover, dealer in grain, and town official of Stratford. William’s mother, Mary, was the daughter of Robert Arden, a prosperous gentleman. On November 28, 1582, William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway entered into a marriage contract. The baptism of their eldest child, Susanna, took place in Stratford in May 1583. One year and nine months later their twins, Hamnet and Judith, were christened in the same church. In 1593, William found a patron, Henry Wriothgley, to sponsor him. During this time, he wrote two long poems.

His first long poem, “Venus and Adonius”, was written in 1593. In 1594 he wrote his second long poem, “Rape of Lucrece”. In London, Shakespeare established himself as an actor who began to write many plays. Shakespeare worked “Lords Chamberlain’s Men” company which later became “The King’s Men” in 1603 after King James I took over. This company became the largest and most famous acting company, only because Shakespeare worked for them, writing all the plays they performed. They performed these plays by Shakespeare in a well known theater which was called “The Globe” because of it s circular shape. Shakespeare left London in 1611 and retired. On March 25, 1616, Shakespeare made a will and, shortly after he died on April 23, 1616 at the age of 52. Many people believed that Shakespeare knew he was dying; however he didn’t want anyone to know that he was.

Certainly there are many things about Shakespeare’s genius and career which the most diligent scholars do not know and can not explain, but the facts which do exist are sufficient to establish Shakespeare’s identity as a man and his authorship of the thirty-seven plays which reputable critics acknowledge to be his. Since the 19th century, Shakespeare’s achievements have been more consistently recognized, and throughout the Western world he has come to be regarded as the greatest dramatist ever. ACT I The play’s opening lines signal a mood of tension, and they portend disaster for Egeon, a middle-aged merchant from the ancient city of Syracuse on the island of Sicily. The cities of Syracuse and Ephesus are openly hostile toward one another. Captured in Ephesus, Egeon has been condemned to death by the Duke, who urges him to tell the sad story of how he has come to this state. Along with his wife Emilia, identical twin sons both named Antipholus, and identical twin slaves both named Dromio, Egeon some years ago suffered a shipwreck. One son and slave survived with the father; the others, he hoped, survived with the mother.

Neither group knew of the other’s survival, however, nor of each other’s whereabouts, but when Antipholus of Syracuse turned eighteen, his father gave him permission to search for his brother. The worried Egeon then set out after his second son, and after five years of fruitless wandering, he came to Ephesus. Moved by this tale of sadness, the Duke of Ephesus gave Egeon a day, within which time Egeon must raise a thousand marks ransom money. Antipholus of Syracuse takes his leave of a friendly merchant and tells his servant Dromio of Syracuse to take the 1,000 marks he has with him to their lodging for safekeeping. Meanwhile, he tells Dromio he’s going to look around the town. Soon Dromio of Ephesus, an exact look-alike of the other Dromio, enters and tells Antipholus of Syracuse, thinking he is Antipholus of Ephesus, to come home for dinner that his wife has been waiting. In no mood for joking around with the servant, Antipholus hits the uncomprehending Dromio on the head, as he walks off.

Antipholus then groans with the thought that a bondsman has just cheated him out of 1,000 marks. ACT II Antipholus of Ephesus’ wife, Adriana, debates with her sister Luciana on the proper conduct of authority in marriage. Luciana’s conventional wisdom that men are masters to their females and their lords. Dromio breaks up the conversation with the complaint that his master has just hit him and demanded the return of a nonexistent thousand marks. The servant’s report of his master’s words “ I know no house, no wife, no mistress,” send Adriana into a fit of anger. Antipholus of Syracuse beats Dromio of Syracuse, this time, for his former ignorance, and warning him in the future to be sure precisely when the time is right for joking around. Dromio takes the beating completely dumbfounded about the reason for it. Then shortly after Adriana and Luciana see Antipholus of Syracuse and take him for Antipholus of Ephesus. The Syracusian Antipholus and Syracusian Dromio begin to doubt their senses. Their bewilderment follows quickly upon Adriana’s long forgiving speech to her husband.

Antipholus of Syracuse correctly explains that he has only been in Ephesus for two hours, and therefore he does not know who Adriana is. When Luciana recounts having sent Dromio to fetch him to dinner. Antipholus of Syracuse becomes further confused, suspecting that his servant is in on a practical joke. By the end of the scene, however, both master and servant simply agree to play along with the rather pleasant madness of going to dinner with a beautiful women who thinks she is wife and mistress to them. ACT III Antipholus of Ephesus, together with his servant, a goldsmith, and the merchant Balthazar, try to gain entrance to his home but refused entry by Dromio of Syracuse. At balthazar’s warning that too much yelling outside his home may endanger his wife’s honor into question. Antipholus is determined to get even with his wife so he walks over to the Inn where he knows of a lady of excellent discourse. Later in the house, Luciana entreats Antipholus of Syracuse to be kind to his wife even if he must be a hypocrite in the process.

He shocks Luciana by his response, that he likes Adriana but, is deeply in love with her. When Luciana runs off, Dromio of Syracuse enters to explain that he too is having problems with a member of the opposite sex. Master and servant, truly worried that witchcraft is involved, determine to set forth on the first available ship. Compounding matters at the end of the scene is Angelo the goldsmith, who delivers a gold chain to Antipholus of Syracuse, which he ordered for his wife. Antipholus of Syracuse refuses payment saying that he could settle it later. Act IV A merchant anxious to go on a business voyage entreats Angelo to pay a debt he owes, but Agelo cannot pay until five O’clock when Antipholus is to give him the money for his gold chain. At that moment Antipholus of Ephesus enters with his servant, Dromio, whom he discharges to go buy a whip with which he plans to beat his wife with. Antipholus of Ephesus had ordered the gold chain, but as we saw in the previous scene it was Antipholus of Syracuse who received it. With the merchant anxious to depart tempers rise at the confusion.

The upshot is two arrests: Angelo for non-payment of debt, and Antipholus for refusal to pay for his gold chain. Adding further to the lunacy is Dromio of Syracuse, who arrives to tell Antipholus of Ephesus that he has booked passage for himself and his master on a ship scheduled to leave shortly. This naturally costs further suspicion onto Antipholus of Ephesus. Dromio of Syracuse then thinks his master is mad at him when he is told to retutrn home and fetch bail money. Luciana tells Adriana of Antipholus’s strange behavior toward her; which set off another jealous tirade. Her attitude soon changes though, revealing her true feelings. When Dromio of Syracuse arrives to beg bail money for his master, Adriana complies. Antipholus of Syracuse alone, recounts each strange occurrence of the day, concluding that a Lapland sorcerer must inhabit the place. Just as he lists the last bit madness, in comes Dromio of Syracuse with the gold for bail money, which his master had demanded that he fetch.

Antiphoulus of Syracuse, knowing nothing of his own arrest grows acutely bewildered, when a courtesan arrives requesting a gold chain for a ring which she claims to have given Antipholus, he takes her to be the devil incarnate, and he exists post-haste. The courtesan concludes that he must be mad and decides to tell his wife that he had stolen her ring by force. Antipholus of Ephesus is at the center of this scene. First he is told by Dromio of Ephesus that he has fetched flagging rope, but has no memory of being asked to collect five hundred ducats bail money. Antipholus uses the whip on Dromio who groans in response. Adriana enters with schoolmaster, Dr. Pinch, who is to treat her husband for demonic possession. When Dromio of Ephesus corroborates Antipholus of Ephesus’ story that Adriana had locked them out earlier. Dromio of Ephesus probably thinks she is crazy because she doesn’t have a clue to what they are talking about. Meanwhile the doctor orders the two of them to be treated in the accepted Elizabethan manner for dealing with the insane.

That they must be tied together and put in a dark room. Finally Adriana promises to make good for the outstanding debt, and Antipholus of Ephesus, together with his Dromio are led off by the doctors and others. Before Adriana has had time to catch her breath her husband and servant return. It is Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse. Adrian goes crazy again and says that they have to be bound together again. Though Dromio of Syracuse feels that nothing will happen Antipholus is determined to leave the city at once. ACT V While Angelo the goldsmith explains his predicament to another merchant and explains that Antipholus has the gold chain. At that moment Antipholus of Syracuse and his Dromio enter. Antipholus wears the chain, feels that he has been named a villain by the merchant and Angelo, who accuses him of non-payment, and prepares to have a sword fight with Angelo. Adriana then enters and stops the fight letting Anttipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse to hide in a priory.

The abbess of the priory claims Adriana, who wants to recapture her insane husband and blind him for his own good. In contrast to Dr. Pinch in the previous scene, the Abbess is a sensitive person with the interest of the man seeking sanctuary at heart. The Abbess takes it as a charitable duty of her order to try to heal Antipholus. Just then the Duke enters on his way with Egeon to the place of death and sorry execution where he is to be beheaded publicly. Adriana goes to the Duke and pleads with him to force the Abbess to heal her mad husband. Then a messenger arrives to announce Antipholus has escaped in another part of town where they beat all the maids and tied up the doctor and burned him to death. Adriana is near hysteria as she hears her husband’s cry at this very moment within the Abbey. She thinks she might be possessed as Antipholus of Ephesus and his Dromio go to the Duke in front of her. When she has just left her husband in the Abbey with the Abbess. Antipholus of Ephesus begs for help from the Duke.

He then explains what has happened and has not, happened; though others think it has, to him this day. Then the Duke is starting to understand what’s going on and call for the Abbess. Egeon then believes that his son is standing right front of him, who really is, but Antipholus of Ephesus denies ever seeing the man. The Duke takes Egeon as a senile and crazed old man, so he calls for the Abbess. Then the Lady Abbess and Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse come in front of the Duke. When the duke saw the two Antipholuses and the two Dromios, both so exactly alike, he at once remembered the story Egeon had told him in the morning. Then the Lady Abbess made herself known to be the fond mother of the two Antipholus. When the fisherman took the eldest Antipholus and Dromio away from her, she entered a nunnery and soon became the Lady Abbess. Then Antipholus of Ephesus offered the Duke the ransom money for his father’s life; but the Duke freely pardoned Egeon, and would not take the money.

After a while Antioholus of Syracuse married the fair Luciana, the sister of his brother’s wife; and Egeon with his wife and sons, lived at Ephesus for many years. Critical Commentary The plot for the Comedy of Errors was not original. Shakespeare, like most other playwrights and authors of that time, based his work on another, earlier work. In Shakespeare’s case he chose one of Plautus’s most highly respected comedies, the Menaechmi. Significantly, he did not rely exclusively on rhymed couplets for his comedy. In fact half the play is in black verse, and exceptional accomplishment for a beginning playwright. (Kemp,3) The plot was well known to the public of the time. The use of mistaken identities, as well as the confusion of twins, had long been popular in the Western Theater tradition. While Plautus had only one set of twins, Shakespeare has two, which makes this comedy increased to a great extent the possibility of confusion. He combines adventure, the comedy of human folly, romance, and suspense in a play that while not one of his masterpieces can be said to be both clever and original and still popular today.

(O’Brian, 3) As the plot gets underway even the secondary characters are unhappy. A constant theme in his first play. The idea of mastery and liberty in the Comedy of Errors, whether it be husband and wife or master and servant is not so important in itself as it is as part of a general context of man’s mastery over his or her own fate. Beginning with nature’s surrealist joke, Comedy of Errors for the most part light heatedly explores ways in which people are caught upon webs spun according to the laws of chance. This, of course, is one primal appeal of farce: natural repetition and duplication- when compounded to include individual themselves- threatening even their senses of identity can be frightening. (Gibbons, 7) In the Comedy of Errors, the changes Shakespeare makes to his main source* Plautus, emphasizes the pathos of human capacity for error and man’s subjection to the power of fortune. The doubling the masters and servants results in situation identical twins puts in question the very idea of nature, as well as the human quest for self-knowledge. Shakespeare ensures that the audience knows more of the situation that the characters do, which increases the impression that the characters are victims, causing effects both ridiculous and pathetic.

The wife Adriana declares her belief in the sanctity of marriage as a spiritual union, she and her husband has an identical twin, and that it is to this man a complete stranger, that she is declaring herself in dissoluble knit. The Meta physical paradox that man and wife are not one flesh is confronted by the physical paradox that man and brother are identically the same. The longing for the reunion that one twin feels for the other is contested with the frustration both husband and wife feel within the bonds of marriage. (Gibbons, 2) Bibliography 0 Good or bad? How would you rate this essay? Help other users to find the good and worthy free term papers and trash the bad ones. Like this term paper? Vote & Promote so that others can find it Get a Custom Paper on Literature: Shakespeare: Free papers will not meet the guidelines of your specific project. If you need a custom essay on Literature: Shakespeare: , we can write you a high quality authentic essay. While free essays can be traced by Turnitin (plagiarism detection program), our custom written papers will pass any plagiarism test, guaranteed. Our writing service will save you time and grade.

Related essays: Little Country Theatre - North Dakota State University Theatre Department High School Drama Day - October 22 A riotous comedy of mistaken identity! The Bard takes mistaken identity one step further in The Comedy of Errors by using two sets of identical twins and their adventures during one absurd day. While searching for their brothers, Antipholus and Dromio are mistaken for their twins, also named Antipholus and Dromio, causing a marital rift, budding love, false arrest, failed exorcism, and errors of betrayal in this series of hilarious twists and turns. The Story: Aegeon, a merchant of Syracuse, became the father of twin boys thirty-three years before the play begins. After christening them both Antipholus, he proceeded to purchase servants for his sons, also identical twins, both named Dromio. Aegeon and his wife, Aemelia, were shipwrecked in a violent storm while traveling with the Antipholus's and Dromio's. Aegeon was able to save on boy and one servant; his wife the other pair. Aegeon and Aemelia have not seen each other since.

The Play: Antipholus and Dromio (Pair 1) travel to the city of Ephesus in an effort to find their long-lost twins, unaware that Aegeon has also arrived in pursuit of the same quest. Aegeon is arrested and condemned to death unless a ransom is paid by sunset. Unbeknownst to them all, the Antipholus and Dromio (Pair 2) they are searching for are living in Ephesus. Suddenly, strangers are greeting the travelers like old friends, Antipholus (1) has puzzlingly acquired a wife, and everyone in Ephesus seems to behaving very strangely... Teachers! The Acting Company has an excellent online lesson plan for The Comedy of Errors. Click here to gain ideas and information, not to mention Shakespearean insults, and share with your students! The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare Ready for Prime Time Players CAST SOLINUS, Duke of Ephesus......................James Belcher EGEON, a traveler from Syracuse............... Charles Krohn ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE, twin brother to Antipholus of Ephesus.... James Black ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, his twin brother......................

James Black DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, twin brother to Dromio of Ephesus........ John Tyson DROMIO OF EPHESUS, his twin brother.......................... John Tyson FIRST MERCHANT............................................. Luis Galindo ADRIANA, wife to Antipholus- of Ephesus................... Annalee Jefferies LUCIANA, her sister...................................... Elizabeth Heflin ANGELO, a goldsmith....................................... Jamison Stern SECOND MERCHANT.......................................... Luis Galindo PINCH, a conjuror........................................ John Feltch The OFFICER.......................................... Jason Douglas Townspeople, Soldiers, Nuns.......................... Kenneth Douglas, Kara Greenberg, Chanda Kay Maria Sotolongo, Froilan Sotolongo, Julie Thornley, Rob Tegtmeier and the Company ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alley Theatre's Gregory Boyd Turns William Shakespeare's "THE COMEDY OF ERRORS" Into a Rollicking Riot by Theresa Pisula I went in the Theatre expecting the old-fashioned, run-of-the-mill Shakespearean piece, but instead I was entertained by Gregory Boyd's interpretation of Shakespeare: Millennium Style.

The Alley Theatre's Ready for Prime Time Players: James Black, John Tyson, James Belcher, Bettye Fitzpatrick, Charles Krohn, Annalee Jefferies, Elizabeth Heflin, and John Feltch does Shakespeare like he's never been done before. This brilliant Alley Theatre Cast had the audience rolling in the aisles as they turned William Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" into a rollicking riot. Just like watching Phoebe of the Friends Show and Phoebe the Porn Star, James Black plays the dual character of Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus, as does John Tyson who plays Dromio of Syracuse and and his twin brother, Dromio of Ephesus. I found certain instances of Cross Dressing quite amusing, James Belcher as the wailing female whale, sporting huge low hanging breasts, infatuated with Dromio, "Oh Dromio, Oh Dromio, wherefore art thou, Dromio?" (Oooops, wrong Shakespeare play). Charles Krohn, who also plays a nun, among his multiple characters, was hilarious as he does a Marlon Brando "Godfather" impersonation.

This nun's sole job is to open the door to the Abbey, and turn on the Neon sign, "JESUS SAVES". One could consider this play a period piece, if and only if one could determine what period it is. The funniest character I found is Bettye Fitzpatrick, who plays The Abbess, a Mother Superior carrying a loaded shotgun (it is Houston's Rodeo Season, after all). The comedy is most effective with Bettye Fitzpatrick, John Tyson and Charles Krohn, who downplayed their characters. Equally amusing is watching the Brilliant Director Gregory Boyd (during Premiere night), sitting on the 3rd row, mouthing all the words to all the characters in the show. It must be incredibly rewarding to watch all his ideas, his artistic interpretation, his creation come to life. Good Ol' Billy Shakespeare would have been sooooo proud. The Fight Scenes were well-coordinated, which included double-edged swords, switch-blade knives, flying ninjas and Batman sequences. The women were voluptuous in their costumes, wearing garter belts and belly-dancer outfits.

Annalee Jefferies is brilliant as the beautiful Adriana, Elizabeth Heflin as her sister Luciana, and Amanda Ronconi was irresistible as the Courtesan with a top-heavy headpiece (my friend was intently watching her through his binoculars). All in all, it was a brilliant execution of a Shakespeare Farce. You walk out of the theatre thinking, "That wasn't just a Shakespeare play that I saw, was it?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ALLEY'S BOYD SENDS ACTING COMPANY ON THEATRICAL EXPLORATION OF SHAKESPEARE'S ZANIEST WORK, "THE COMEDY OF ERRORS" February 4-March 5, 2000; Opening February 9, 2000 HOUSTON, Texas-Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and the Alley company of actors take Shakespeare's outrageous The Comedy of Errors on a unique interpretation of the Bard's mistaken-identity farce.

Sponsored by Deloitte & Touche, L.L.P., and Chase Bank of Texas, The Comedy of Errors plays on the Alley's intimate Neuhaus Arena Stage Friday, February 4 through Sunday, March 5, 2000, with the official opening taking place on Wednesday, February 9, 2000. "I wanted to make a production of The Comedy of Errors for the current resident company because their make-up seemed to offer me a unique opportunity, " said Mr. Boyd. "Every role in The Comedy of Errors is worth playing, which makes it a lovely ensemble piece, and it has enough 'room' in it to allow us to give whatever is particular in the personality of this cast a chance to have fun.' The Comedy of Errors begins when Antipholus of Syracuse and his sidekick Dromio, arrive in Ephesus. Unknown to them, their long-lost twin brothers (also named Antipholus and Dromio) are residents of the town. When the visitors encounter complete strangers declaring friendship, creditors demanding payment and women claiming marriage, the stage is set for a wild romp of mistaken identities and comic confusion.

The Comedy of Errors is one of Shakespeare's first plays, perhaps written in 1589. It is one of his only true farces and is believed to be an adaptation from the ancient Roman playwright Plautus' The Menachmi, which also dealt with the misadventures of a set of twins. The Shakespearian version of course doubled the possibility for humorous mishaps by doubling the number of twins; and as a result, made the play a much more complicated and intelligent farce. In its long history of productions, the play has had several interpretations, and was even the inspiration for Rodgers and Hart's The Boys from Syracuse. Mr. Boyd's imaginative production borrows elements from 1940s Warner Brothers endeavors such as "Casablanca" and "Algiers" - allowing for even more layers of chaos and fun. Alley Theatre Resident Company Actor James Black is both Antipholus of Epheus and Antipholus of Syracuse, while Alley Theatre Resident Company Actor John Tyson is both Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse.

Other Alley Resident Company Actors include: John Feltch as Pinch, Bettye Fitzpatrick as Emilia, Elizabeth Heflin as Luciana, Annalee Jefferies as Adriana, Charles Krohn as Egeon, and Kevin Waldron as Balthazar. The Alley regulars will be joined by James Belcher as Solinus, Luis Galindo as the First Merchant / Second Merchant, Amanda Ronconi as the Courtesan, and Jamison Stern as Angelo. The Comedy of Errors features scenic and lighting design by Alley Associate Director / Design Kevin Rigdon, costume design by Fabio Toblini and sound design by Alley Resident Sound Designer Malcolm Nicholls. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Alley Theatre, recipient of the 1996 Special Tony Award for outstanding regional theatre, is a resident theatre company located in the heart of downtown Houston. Alley productions have been seen throughout the United States and abroad. In 1998, the Alley Theatre continued its commitment to international collaborations by joining Vanessa Redgrave and Corin Redgrave's Moving Theatre of London to produce the world premiere production of Tennessee Williams' early play Not About Nightingales at the Cottesloe Theatre in London.

A collaboration with the Moving Theatre and Royal National Theatre and idrected by Trevor Nunn, Not About Nightingales made its U.S. debut at the Alley THeatre in June 1998 and went onto to open at the Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway in the Spring of 1999. Featuring two Alley actors in principal roles, Not About Nightingales was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. The Alley began its 1998-99 season with the world premiere of an original and unique musical event entitled The Civil War by Gregory Boyd, Jack Murphy and Frank Wildhom (composer of Jekyll & Hyde and The Scarlet Pimpernel). The Civil War (Tony Award nomination, Best Musical) went on to a run at Broadway's St. James Theatre in April, 1999, making it the second Alley offering to open on Broadway that season, and is currently on a national tour.

For the 1999-2000 season, Gregory Boyd, the Alley Theatre Artistic Director has chosen to include a juxtaposition of the new, the contemporary and the classic-including a trio of new plays by three writers making their Alley debuts: Lemonade,'a world premiere by Eve Ensler, As Bees in Honey Drown, a brilliant comedy by Douglas Carter Beane, and Margaret Edson's 1999 Pulitzer Prize winner Wit. Alongside these are three modem masters who helped define 20' century playwriting: Arthur Miller, Nodi Coward, and Edward Albee, whose new play A Play About the Baby will make its American premiere at the Alley in the spring of 2000. TICKET INFORMATION Tickets for The Comedy of Errors are on sale now at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 TexasAvenue,orbyealling7l3/228-8421. Singleticketstopreviewperformancesare$23; single tickets to performances on or after the Wednesday, February 9 opening range from $37- $42.

Groups of IO persons or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling 713/229- 9341, ext. 350. Shakespeare's most outrageous comedy begins when Antipholus of Syracuse and his sidekick Drornio, arrive in Ephesus. Unknown to them, their long-lost twin brothers (also named Antipholus and Dromio) are residents of the town. When the visitors encounter complete strangers declaring friendship, creditors demanding payment and women claiming marriage, the stage is set for a wild romp of mistaken identities and comic confusion. Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd directs. WHEN: February 4 - March 5, 2000 WHERE: Alley Theatre, Neuhaus Arena Stage 615 Texas Avenue TICKETS: Tickets to Comedy of Errors can be purchased at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713-228-8421. Tickets to preview performances are $23; tickets to performances on or after February 9 range from $37 - $42.

Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling 713-228-9341, ext. 350. The Comedy of Errors Summary The Comedy of Errors Summary NEXT How It All Goes Down Egeon, a merchant from Syracuse , is spending time in the city of Ephesus . Being in Ephesus means Egeon’s life is about to get complicated. Because of some recent strife between the cities of Ephesus and Syracuse, any citizen of either locale caught in the enemy territory is sentenced to death (unless he can pay 1000 marks as a ransom for his life). The Duke of Ephesus explains all of this to Egeon as he hands him a death sentence for trespassing on Ephesian soil. Egeon is eager to get the death sentence – execution is no big deal because his life is pretty crappy – he’ll even explain why. A long time ago, Egeon was making a lot of money as a merchant. When his agent died, he went on a business trip with his pregnant wife, who gave birth to identical twin boys while they were away from home.

At the same exact time, a poor woman in the same inn also gave birth to identical twin boys. The poor woman sold her boys to Egeon to be servants for his twins. On their way home to Syracuse, a terrible storm overtook the ship that Egeon and his family were sailing in. During the storm, Egeon looked after one of his twin sons and one of the twin servants, as did his wife. However, during the storm, the boat was destroyed and the husband and wife, along with the boys, were separated. Egeon’s wife and one set of boys were rescued by a Corinthian ship, and Egeon and the two boys with him were picked up by a ship bound for Epidaurus . Thus separated, Egeon never saw his wife or lost son again. Egeon named his set of boys after their missing twin brothers. He raised the boys until they were 18, at which point his biological son got inquisitive about his lost brother. Egeon’s son set off with his servant to find their lost halves. Since then, Egeon has wandered around looking for them. Egeon has now lost all hope, and he welcomes the Duke’s death sentence.

The Duke gives Egeon until sunset to beg or borrow the money to ransom his life. Meanwhile, the son that Egeon raised in Syracuse has shown up in Ephesus, the very place his dad came to look for him. His name is Antipholus, and his servant’s name is Dromio (but we’ll call them S. Antipholus and S. Dromio, as they’re from Syracuse, and their initials will help us avoid confusion as the play progresses). S. Antipholus sends S. Dromio to go get them a room at a local inn called the Centaur. Just then, Dromio of Ephesus (who we’ll call E. Dromio) happens upon S. Antipholus and mistakes the Syracusian for his master, Antipholus of Ephesus (who we’ll call E. Antipholus). E. Dromio bids S. Antipholus to come home to dinner with E. Antipholus’s wife. S. Antipholus is reasonably confused, and ends up beating E. Dromio. E. Dromio runs away. E. Dromio goes back to his master’s house.

Adriana, E. Antipholus’ wife, is angry that her husband hasn’t returned. S. Dromio, back at the marketplace, meets up with S. Antipholus. S. Antipholus beats S. Dromio for fooling around earlier and telling him weird messages about his "wife" wanting him home for dinner. (But we know that S. Antipholus was talking with E. Dromio earlier, not S. Dromio.) Then the two men are accosted by Adriana (E. Antipholus’s wife), with Luciana (Adriana’s sister) in tow. The two women add to the confusion, and they insist S. Dromio and S. Antipholus come home to dinner with them, as they mistake the men for their Ephesian counterparts. S. Antipholus is confused, but he decides to go with the flow and follow this woman who claims to be his wife. S. Dromio is left to play the keeper of the gate at E. Antipholus’s house and allow nobody inside. Next, we finally meet the real E.

Antipholus, who’s been busy with Angelo the goldsmith, making a gold necklace for Adriana. E. Antipholus goes back to his house with E. Dromio, Angelo, and a merchant named Balthazar. The men all arrive expecting to eat dinner, but they get home to find the gate is locked. S. Dromio, who can’t see the men through the gate, is taking his gate porter duties really seriously, refusing to let them in. The mayhem only increases, but E. Antipholus and E. Dromio eventually decide to have dinner elsewhere. E. Antipholus asks Angelo the goldsmith to bring him the gold necklace during dinner. Meanwhile, things aren’t any prettier inside E. Antipholus’s house. S. Antipholus (who is wifeless, as far as he knows) is trying to woo Luciana, his lost-brother’s wife’s sister. (High drama.) Luciana, unsure of how to respond, deflects his offers and runs off. The situation is getting uncomfortable, so S. Antipholus instructs S.

Dromio to go find a ship, so they can get out of this bewitched city. Before he leaves Adriana’s house, S. Antipholus is stopped by Angelo the goldsmith. Angelo mistakes S. Antipholus for E. Antipholus, and gives him the golden necklace and refuses payment, saying he knows he’ll get paid later. S. Antipholus wants to get out of this place ASAP, but doesn’t mind taking such a nice gift. Later in the day at the marketplace, Angelo the goldsmith sees E. Antipholus and approaches his client for payment for the necklace. E. Antipholus, as he never received the necklace, says Angelo must be talking madness. Poor E. Antipholus gets arrested for avoiding paying his debt. The wrongly imprisoned E. Antipholus is furious. S. Dromio approaches and tells E. Antipholus he’s secured the ship that S. Antipholus asked for. Since E. Antipholus didn’t ask for a ship, he figures Dromio is crazy, too. Wanting to be freed from jail, he sends S. Dromio to Adriana to get bail money.

When S. Dromio reaches Adriana and tells her what happened, Adriana sends the servant off with bail money. S. Dromio, rushing back to the marketplace to bail out E. Antipholus, runs into S. Antipholus. S. Dromio tries to give his real master the bail money, but S. Antipholus is confused, and just asks about the ship he sent S. Dromio for a long time ago. E. Antipholus, still arrested, is met by E. Dromio, who knows nothing of his master’s arrest. The servant was just receiving a beating when Adriana, Luciana, and a schoolmaster named Pinch arrive. Adriana, thinking her husband is possessed, begs the schoolmaster (who is apparently a part-time exorcist) to cure her husband of whatever demon has possessed him. E. Antipholus is angry and tries to attack Adriana. Ultimately, E. Antipholus and E. Dromio are tied up, and taken to Adriana’s house. After the men have been taken away, the women try to clear up E.

Antipholus’s debt (and figure out its origin) with the arresting officer. As they’re puzzling it out, they’re encountered by S. Antipholus and S. Dromio. The Syracusians mistake Adriana and company for witches, and run at them with swords drawn. Everyone scampers off. Angelo the goldsmith shows up again and sees that S. Antipholus is wearing the necklace that E. Antipholus denied receiving. S. Antipholus says he never denied anything. The squabble is getting tense and the men are ready to duke it out. Adriana and Co. enter just as the men are about to fight. S. Antipholus and S. Dromio take the opportunity to slip into a conveniently located priory (or religious place) nearby. The Abbess (a religious lady of the priory) comes out, and asks exactly what all the fuss is about. Adriana begs the Abbess release her husband, but the Abbess refuses, as it would violate their sanctuary in the priory. Just then, the Duke shows up on a merry jaunt to have Egeon beheaded.

Adriana wants the Duke to make the Abbess release her husband, but her request is interrupted by a messenger. The messenger says that E. Antipholus and E. Dromio have escaped their bonds, singed Pinch’s beard, and are now headed towards the priory to rage against Adriana and Co. Just then, E. Antipholus arrives and pleads for the Duke to deliver justice against his wife, who has much abused him. The Duke throws his hands up and declares everyone is insane. To add to the craziness, Egeon takes this moment to pipe up that he recognizes Antipholus is the son he raised in Syracuse. Of course, E. Antipholus says he’s never seen his father in all his life, causing Egeon to despair. This fine kettle of fish is FINALLY de-fishified when the Abbess re-enters the scene with S. Antipholus and S. Dromio in tow. Everyone sees the four men, in two identical sets, face to face. Then they realize what’s been going on the whole time. S.

Antipholus recognizes his dad, and the Abbess reveals that she’s actually Aemilia, Egeon’s long lost wife. S. Antipholus takes the opportunity to reiterate his offer of marriage to Luciana. The Duke even frees Egeon! Instead of death and disorder, the play ends with the Abbess calling everybody into the abbey, so they can share the stories of their lives since their separation. Shakespeare festival returns to St. Marys Shakespeare festival returns to St. Marys Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival to stage 'The Comedy of Errors' In the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival's production of "The Comedy of Errors," the servant Dromio of Ephesus (Patrick Murtha), right, explains to Adriana (Emilie Jordan), center, her husband's strange behavior as Luciana (Danielle Grieco) reacts. Identical twin brothers separated at birth - Dromio of Syracuse (Chris Perry), left, and Dromio of Ephesus (Patrick Murtha) - don't know about one another until they meet in a comedy of mistaken identities in the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival's production of "The Comedy of Errors." Syracusian merchant Aegoen (Thomas J.

Hughes Jr.), left, explains to Solinus (Jeff Daganais), the duke of Ephesus, why he has illegally come to Ephesus in "The Comedy of Errors," which the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival will stage this weekend and next in St. Marys. Antipholus of Syracuse (John Liesenfeld), left, professes his innocence to an Officer (Brian O'Leary) in "The Comedy of Errors," which begins a two-weekend run Friday at the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival in St. Marys, In the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival's production of "The Comedy of Errors," Courteson (Emily Thibeault) suspects her one of her patrons of stealing her ring. ST. MARYS — The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival returns to St. Marys for a third year with a classic play staged in a different location and guided by a new director. "The Comedy of Errors," one of William Shakespeare's earliest plays and his shortest comedy, will open Friday for a two-weekend run with performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on a remote part of the St. Mary's College grounds.

The festival's Artisan Village with food, beverage and arts and crafts vendors will open at 5 p.m. each performance date. The first two Flint Hills Shakespeare Festivals were staged in a natural amphitheater near the fourth hole of the St. Marys Public Golf Course. However, "The Comedy of Errors" will be performed on a stage northwest of the college's buildings in a copse of trees with parking and entrance from Mount Calvary Road. Those driving from Topeka should enter St. Marys on US-24 then turn north on 2nd Street, proceed up the hill, then turn east on Mount Calvary Road at the cemetery and follow the signs and guides. Walking shoes are recommended, and those attending should bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating. Ben Moats, the festival's co-founder and president, said, "The new location will give us room to grow and provide a more magical experience because of the isolation and natural scenery." The former location was adjacent to US-24 and the parallel railroad tracks.

Moats said the festival offers "a unique opportunity to enjoy and celebrate the arts in a day and age where they are often discredited." With free parking and entry fees, which can be paid at the gate with cash or check, of $10 a person, $15 a couple, $30 a family and free for children 7 and younger, Moats called the festival "family-friendly and economical." "People can feel good about bringing their children and given them an appreciation of the culture, as well," Moats added. Directing the play is Andrew Clarendon, professor of English literature at St. Mary's College and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who retired from the service as a lieutenant. At Annapolis, where he later taught, Clarendon studied Shakespeare with David Allen White, an expert on the Bard and co-editor of "Shakespeare A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Plays, His Poems, His Life, and Times, and More." "He's the one who taught me really what Shakespeare is saying in the plays," Clarendon said of White.

"He taught me to read and understand Shakespeare." However, in encouraging people to attend the festival, Clarendon added, "Shakespeare is meant to be performed, not read." When it is performed, the archaic language is easier to understand. "He's great because of his language. He tells the truth in a beautiful way," Clarendon said. "When you seem him performed out on stage, and you see the genius and the magic, it's wonderful." "The Comedy of Errors" deals with two sets of identical twins who were accidentally separated at birth. Antipholus of Syracuse (John Liesenfeld) and his his servant, Dromio of Syracuse (Chris Perry), arrive in Ephesus, which turns out to be the home of their twin and same-named brothers, Antipholus of Epheses (John McCann) and his servant, Dromio of Ephesus (Patrick Murtha).

Because no one in Ephesus knows the Syracusan twins exist, their arrival leads to mistaken identity comedy involving both Antipholi and Dromios, as well as Antipholus of Ephesus' wife Adriana (Emilie Jordan); her sister Luciana (Danielle Grieco); her maid Luce (Theresa Dagenais); a Courtesan (Emily Thibeault); and more in the often farcical play. The cast includes Doctor Pinch (Patrick Ard), a conjuring schoolmaster; Second Merchant (Matthew Baer); Solinus (Jeff Dagenais), duke of Ephesus; Aemilia (Monica Fawver), lady abbess at Ephesus; Jailer (John Forsee); Aegeon (Thomas J. Hughes Jr.), a merchant of Syracuse; Servant (Maryck Linn); Headsman (Aric Nichols); Officer (Bryan O'Leary); First Merchant (Gerard Pryor); Angelo (Vince Riccomini), a goldsmith; and Balthazar (Peter Stamos), a merchant. For more about the festival, go to its website at or the festival's Facebook page. Advertisement

Question: Which Shakespearean play features a merchant named 'Balthazar' and a Goldsmith named 'Angelo'?
Answer: 'THE COMEDY OF ERRORS'