Overview

Synopsis

In The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare’s shortest play and one of his most farcical comedies, we see the problem that arises when one loses their identity. The story follows two sets of twins, separated at birth: The Antipholuses (of Syracuse and Ephesus) and their servants the Dromios (also of Syracuse and Ephesus). Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse are on a journey to find their long lost brother and mother who were lost in a shipwreck that separated their family. On this particular day, they have ended up in the town of Ephesus where, unbeknownst to them, their twin brothers reside. Chaos ensues when the people of the town continue to confuse the brothers for one another, including (but not limited to) Adriana, the wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, thinking her husband must be mad when he claims to not know who she is; Angelo, a shifty goldsmith, getting an officer to arrest Antipholus of Ephesus when he refuses to pay him for a chain he’s already received; or Luciana, Adriana’s sister, claiming that her sister’s husband confessed his love for her. We see the twins try to navigate through a world that seems to have lost all its wits.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1594
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Ephesus
Cast Size
large
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Antipholus of Ephesus

Lead

Male

Spoken

Antipholus of Syracuse

Lead

Male

Spoken

Dromio of Ephesus

Lead

Male

Spoken

Dromio of Syracuse

Lead

Male

Spoken

Adriana

Lead

Female

Spoken

Luciana

Lead

Female

Spoken

Luce (Nell)

Lead

Male

Spoken

Duke

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Egeon

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Emilia

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Angelo

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Courtesan

Supporting

Female

Balthazar

Featured

Male

Pinch

Featured

Male

Spoken

Merchant (1)

Ensemble

Male

Spoken

Merchant (2)

Ensemble

Male

Spoken

Jailer

Ensemble

Male

Spoken

Messenger

Ensemble

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    A term used in classical theatre to refer to a woman who runs a brothel; often used in comedic or bawdy contexts.

    To conceal one's true motives or feelings, a frequent tactic in English Renaissance drama.

    An archaic form of 'do,' used in English Renaissance plays.

    A dull or faded costume color used to reflect low status or mood.

    Relating to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, marked by flourishing English drama and playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe.

    Fie

    An exclamation of disapproval or disgust found in English Renaissance and Shakespearean plays.

    An archaic or poetic word meaning 'from here' or 'as a result'; common in English Renaissance texts. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.

    Hie

    An archaic term meaning 'hurry,' often used in Shakespearean and Renaissance drama. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.

    An old-fashioned term meaning the top of the head, used humorously in Shakespearean and other classical texts.

    An Italian term meaning 'Mister,' often used in opera or classical drama to denote respect or character hierarchy.

    A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts or emotions to the audience. Common in Shakespearean plays.

    An archaic second-person singular pronoun meaning 'you,' used in English Renaissance drama to indicate intimacy or formality.

    An informal second-person pronoun used in Shakespearean and early English theatre, equivalent to modern 'you.'

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Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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