The Comedy of Errors

1.Describe the theater, sets, and costumes:

 Drayton Hall is a proscenium theater with stadium seating, which means that the audiences’ seats are stepped from low to high.  The set was composed of 3 houses, each 2 stories tall.  The houses on stage right and stage left have balconies.  The middle house has a large window instead of a balcony.  There was also a church that was in between the middle house and the house on stage left.  There were 3 tables set up with chairs surrounding them on stage left to simulate a cafe.  Throughout the play different props that were colored with bright pastels were carried in and out.  The costumes were very bright.  Both Dromio characters were dressed in purple sweater vests and large purple ties with identical purple wigs while, Both Antiphelus characters were dressed in bright oranges suits with identical orange wigs.  Adriana wore a long bright green skirt with a polka dotted shirt.  She also wore a large hat, like one you would see women wearing at a traditional horse race.  Luciana seemed to be more traditionally dressed in a light blue suit consisting of a skirt and jacket.  She also wore glasses which completed her character as more docile one. The belly dancers wore the same exotic type outfits with beads and sparkles but each was a different color.   There was also a maid whose costume was made to make her look overweight.  I thought all of the costumes were very flamboyant and different in their own way.

2. In what period does this play take place? Who is the author? What period did the play write live?

“The Comedy of Errors” is one of William Shakespeares earliest written plays.  The time period for which the play took place could be anywhere from 1589 to 1594.  It is speculated however, that Shakespeare based this play on the Roman play write Plautus.  This play that took place in Drayton Hall was a modern twist of the original.  The director, Robert Richmond, added modern music and different choreographed dances more relevant to our day and age.  Though, the language that was used in the play remained the same as the original.

3. Discuss the plot:

The story consists of two sets of identical twins that were mistakenly separated at birth.  They live their whole lives not knowing about the separation. One day Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, decide to venture off to Ephesus.  Once they arrived to Ephesus they come to find that they are mistaken for unknown identical twins; Antipholus of Ephesus and his servant Dromio of Ephesus.  This then causes a series of misconceptions in identity by the towns people, the twins friends, and even Antiphelus of Ephesus’s wife (Adriana).  The play shows the humor behind theses countless misconceptions, hence the title of the play; “The Comedy of Errors”.  Egeon, the father of the both sets of twins, also travels to the city of Ephesus to look for one of his son’s, Antipholus of Ephesus.  As soon as he arrives, he is accused for entering enemy territory and is sentenced to death.  When it is time for Egeon’s execution, he sees his son Antipholus of Esphesus and calls out to him only to find that Antipholus does not recognize him.  At the same time Antipholus of Syracuse and Dormio of Syracuse enter the scene which causes great confusion but then leads to the discovery that they are long lost twins.  Egeon is then pardoned for entering Ephesus  and ends up reuniting with his long lost wife.  This is how the play end!