“The Comedy of Errors” is Upcoming Studio Theatre Production
Run begins Friday, November 10
William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” a rollicking tale of mistaken identity and witty dialogue, will be the fall Studio Theatre performance at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, “The Comedy of Errors” also is his shortest. Theatre historians believe the play was first produced in December 1594, but the plot is much older—Shakespeare expanded and updated elements from “Menaechmi” and “Amphitruo,” two works by the Roman comic playwright Plautus.
The action of “The Comedy of Errors” takes place in a single day and revolves around two sets of twins: Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse, brothers who are unaware of the other’s existence. They are each attended to by a loyal slave, Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse. Again, the slaves are unaware that they also have a twin. Farcical mix-ups occur when all four end up in Ephesus, a major trading center that is part of present-day Turkey but in Shakespeare’s Elizabethan era was associated with sorcery, exorcism, mystery cults, and emerging Christianity.
“‘The Comedy of Errors’ is such an accessible and entertaining farce,” Christine Mangone, lecturer in theatre at Penn State Behrend and director of the show, said. “In our production, we want to expand the limits of how physical and ‘theatrical’ theatre can be. We want to maintain the magical world that Shakespeare created in this play, but are also embracing the notion that theatre can serve as a playground for the actors and audience.”
“The Comedy of Errors” is suitable for all audiences. Performances will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, Saturday, Nov. 11, and Wednesday, Nov. 15 through Saturday, Nov. 18. A 2 p.m. matinee performance will be held on Sunday, Nov. 12.
Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students; reservations can be made by calling 814-898-6242.