By William Shakespeare Written in 1594 First performed December 28, 1594 During the Christmas festivities at Grey’s Inn

Juvenile? Amateur? One of Shakespeare’s very early works Often dismissed as amateur or “textbook” in style Draws ideas from two earlier plays Uses Aristotle’s three unities – time, place, and action BUT Grey’s Inn was a courtly venue, very high profile Shakespeare was young and his company was new to the theater scene Perhaps he just wanted to prove he had mastered the traditional form before he began altering it later in his career.

So what’s the story? TWINS

So you’ve seen the movies, why read this play? Shakespeare knows you understand what will happen when twins are confused. The Comedy of Errors is set apart because of the DEGREE of the mishaps One character almost has his marriage ruined Two characters get beaten by their masters Two sets of twins creates another level of confusion One character gets arrested One character is accused of madness and demonic possession And everything has to get resolved in less than 24 hours so that another character isn’t put to death!

Act One, Scene 1 Egeon Elderly merchant from Syracuse Emilia Wife of Egeon Antipholus of Syracuse Antipholus of Ephesus Dromio of Syracuse Dromio of Ephesus

Elderly merchant from Syracuse Egeon Elderly merchant from Syracuse Antipholus of Syracuse Dromio of Syracuse

The Characters Egeon Elderly merchant from Syracuse Emilia Wife of Egeon Twins separated as young boys Dromio of Syracuse Antipholus of Syracuse Antipholus of Ephesus Dromio of Ephesus Twin slaves to the Antipholus boys, separated as young boys Luciana of Ephesus, Adriana’s sister Adriana of Ephesus, Antipholus’ wife Balthasar and Angelo Merchants in Ephesus Luce and Nell Maids to Antipholus of Ephesus and Adraina Dr Pinch and Courtesan Other locals of Ephesus

Antipholus of Syracuse Act One, Scene 2 Antipholus S. and Dromio S. show up in Ephesus at the same time and are warned to pretend they are from somewhere other than Syracuse. Antipholus S. sends Dromio S. off to get them a room at an inn. Antipholus S. decides to wander the town on his own AND THE TROUBLE BEGINS Antipholus of Syracuse Dromio of Syracuse

Antipholus of Syracuse The other brothers have been living in Ephesus all along. Dromio E. shows up at the marketplace to bring Antipholus E. home for lunch, at the request of his wife, Adriana. He sees Antipholus S. and assumes he is Antipholus E. Antipholus S. gets upset because he thinks this is Dromio S. but Dromio E. is talking about coming home for lunch to a wife, that Antipholus S knows nothing about. Antipholus S. asks Dromio E. about the money he gave Dromio S. for the room and gets very upset when Dromio E. has no idea what he’s talking about. Antipholus S. ends up beating Dromio E. for talking nonsense and losing his money. Dromio E. runs home. Antipholus S. heads to the inn. Antipholus of Syracuse Dromio of Ephesus

Act Two, Scene 1 Adriana of Ephesus, Antipholus’ wife Antipholus E.’s wife Adriana, and her sister, Luciana, are at Antipholus E.’s house waiting for him to come home for lunch. Dromio E. enters the scene and explains what happened with Antipholus S. at the marketplace . Now Adriana is even more angry. She sends Dromio E. back to the marketplace to get Antipholus E. again. Adriana now begins to worry that she must be old and ugly, so her husband prefers other company to hers. Now Adriana’s convinced Antipholus E. is out having a snack in some other woman’s kitchen. Luciana of Ephesus, Adriana’s sister Dromio of Ephesus

Antipholus of Syracuse Act Two, Scene 2 Back at the marketplace, Antipholus S. is confused. When Antipholus S. does see Dromio S., he begins to question him about his earlier requests so Dromio S. is rightfully confused too. Adriana shows up and asserts her husband is being strange. Poor Antipholus S., as he’s actually not her husband, is very confused. Adriana insists she sent Dromio E. to bring her husband home to dinner. Of course, Dromio S. says he’s never seen her in his life (which is true). Adriana, not to be beaten, demands that the confused Antipholus S. come with her to dinner. She charges Dromio S. to guard the gate and let nobody in. They go. Antipholus of Syracuse Dromio of Syracuse Adriana of Ephesus, Antipholus’ wife Luciana of Ephesus, Adriana’s sister

Act Three, Scene 1 Antipholus of Ephesus Near Antipholus E.’s house, Antipholus E. meets with a goldsmith he has asked to make his wife a necklace. He asks Angelo and another merchant Balthasar to come with him to dinner. Antipholus E. then complains about Dromio E., who he thinks is lying to his face. Anyway, the joke’s on Antipholus E., as dinner would be awesome, if he could get into his house… which we know he can’t. What ensues at the gates is a long, confused exchange. Dromio S. is inside guarding the gate. Dromio E. and Antipholus E. wonder who on earth is guarding the gate and why he wouldn’t let the owner of the house (and gate) in. Adriana herself comes to the gate but she thinks her husband is inside, so she won’t let them in either. Antipholus E. goes away angry. Balthasar and Angelo Merchants in Ephesus Dromio of Ephesus Dromio of Syracuse Adriana of Ephesus, Antipholus’ wife

Antipholus of Syracuse Act Three, Scene 2 Still at Antipholus E.’s house, the confusion inside is just as bad. Antipholus S. has declared his love for Luciana. Antipholus S. declares Luciana to be the apple of his eye. Luciana freaks out and runs off to try to comfort her sister. Just then, Dromio S. runs in, out of breath. Dromio S. says the unattractive kitchen wench, claims that he’s her man. Antipholus S. has clearly had enough, and he sends Dromio S, to find a ship leaving immediately, although he will be a little sad to leave Luciana, who has enchanted him. Now, Angelo the goldsmith shows up with Antipholus E.’s gold chain for his wife. He mistakes Antipholus S. for Antipholus E., and happily gives him the chain. Antipholus S., thinking golden gifts are raining from the sky, decides to accept his gift. Antipholus of Syracuse Luciana of Ephesus, Adriana’s sister Dromio of Syracuse Balthasar and Angelo Merchants in Ephesus

Act Four, Scene 1 Balthasar and Angelo Merchants in Ephesus At the marketplace, Angelo owes another merchant money and expects to pay him with money from Antipholus E. for Adriana’s necklace. Antipholus E. and Dromio E. enter the scene expecting to collect the necklace from Angelo. Antipholus E. sends Dromio E. off to buy some rope. A squabble ensues, where it becomes clear that neither man has the necklace. Ultimately, the merchant calls for Antipholus E. to be arrested. Though Angelo regrets it, as he isn’t getting paid, he corroborates with the merchant to get Antipholus E. jailed. Justifiably, Antipholus E. is mad and confused. To add to the confusion, Dromio S. arrives, mistakes Antipholus E. for his master, and informs him that he’s secured the ship to get out of Ephesus. Antipholus E. curses Dromio S. for talking nonsense, and then gives him instructions to go to Adriana and get money for his bail. Antipholus of Ephesus Dromio of Ephesus Dromio of Syracuse

Act Four, Scene 2 Adriana of Ephesus, Antipholus’ wife At Antipholus E.’s house, Luciana tells Adriana about Antipholus E.’s proclamations of love to Luciana. This continues on for a while, with Adriana declaring her hatred for Antipholus E. in turn. Adriana’s moaning over how much she hates her husband for leaving her is cut off by Dromio S., who arrives out of breath. In twisted and rather delightful exasperation, Dromio S. explains that Antipholus E. has been jailed. Dromio S. can’t explain the details exactly, but collecting the bail money from Adriana, he rushes off. Adriana is left to wonder at why her husband is locked up, not that it excuses him from his philandering. Luciana of Ephesus, Adriana’s sister Dromio of Syracuse

Antipholus of Syracuse Act Four, Scene 3 Antipholus of Syracuse Antipholus S. is still at the marketplace, waiting for Dromio S. to come tell him about a ship. Dromio S. then arrives with the gold to pay Antipholus E.’s bail, which confuses Antipholus S since he wasn’t arrested. Antipholus S., however, just wants to know about the ship. Dromio S. is certain he already told Antipholus S. about the ship a long time ago. The Courtesan arrives and talks about the dinner she just had with Antipholus E., where he took a ring from her worth 40 ducats, and promised her a gold chain in exchange. She notes Antipholus S. wears the chain, but when she asks for it, or her ring back, he runs away. The Courtesan decides she’ll go to his wife and tell Adriana that Antipholus E. ran into her house and stole her valuable ring. Dromio of Syracuse Courtesan of Ephesus

Act Four, Scene 4 Antipholus of Ephesus Antipholus E. is still at the marketplace. He is very angry and spots Dromio E., thinking he’s saved but Dromio E. receives another beating because all he has is rope. Adriana, Luciana, the Courtesan, and Dr. Pinch all enter the scene. The women plead with Pinch to exorcise the demons from Antipholus E. Antipholus E. insists that he’s not mad and asks why he was locked out of his own house. Adriana insists that Antipholus E. was at dinner. Antipholus E. also is a bit unhappy about being arrested. Adriana promises she sent the bail money via Dromio E. Basically, everyone seems crazy, and Pinch concludes the men are possessed. Antipholus E. is driven into greater fury and after a bit of a scuffle, Dromio E. is tied up, and he and Antipholus E. are taken away. Adriana then tries to deal with her husband’s debt but Antipholus S. and Dromio S. run in with swords drawn. Everyone is shocked the men have gotten loose from the guards so they run off to get help, leaving Antipholus S. and Dromio S. alone. Antipholus S. hurriedly tells Dromio S. to go grab their things from the inn so they can leave ASAP. Dromio of Ephesus Adriana of Ephesus, Antipholus’ wife Luciana of Ephesus, Adriana’s sister Dr Pinch and Courtesan Other locals of Ephesus Antipholus of Syracuse Dromio of Syracuse

Act Five, Scene 1 Balthasar and Angelo Merchants in Ephesus Angelo the goldsmith apologizes to the merchant to whom he owes money. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Antipholus S. approaches, wearing Angelo’s necklace. Angelo confronts Antipholus S. and Antipholus S. rightly says he never denied he had it. Tempers get hot and the men draw their swords. Adriana enters just in time and tells the merchant that her husband is mad. Antipholus S. and Dromio S., sensing their doom, run off into the priory and seek sanctuary. Just then an abbess (the superior of a group of nuns) enters, and asks just what exactly everybody thinks they’re doing, disturbing God’s peace. The Abbess says the men will get sanctuary and she leaves Adriana without her husband. The Duke shows up with Egeon and some officers. He reminds the crowd that if anyone will provide the sum of 1,000 marks, Egeon’s life will be spared. Adriana doesn’t care so much about Egeon, and instead shouts out that the Abbess is holding her husband in the priory. A messenger arrives and claims that Antipholus E. and Dromio E. have broken their bonds and attacked the doctor but Adriana thinks her husband is actually in the priory. Antipholus of Syracuse Dromio of Syracuse Adriana of Ephesus, Antipholus’ wife Luciana of Ephesus, Adriana’s sister Abbess Duke of Ephesus Egeon Elderly merchant from Syracuse

Elderly merchant from Syracuse But she’s wrong! Of course, just then, Antipholus E. shows up with Dromio E. Adriana is shocked and convinced he moves about invisibly, as there’s no way to explain how he left the priory without her notice. Antipholus E. pleads that the Duke owes him justice, especially in exchange for all the service Antipholus E. did for him in war. Egeon offers that he recognizes these men as his son and his son’s servant, Dromio, but the old man is ignored. The Duke then gets the whole story from Antipholus E.’s perspective, and then from Angelo and the merchant’s perspective, and then from the Courtesan, and decides someone should call the Abbess. Egeon finally speaks up. He identifies Antipholus E. and Dromio E. correctly, but they have no idea who he is. Antipholus E. insists he’s never even been to Syracuse and the Duke also asserts that he’s known Antipholus E. for twenty years, and the young man has never been to Syracuse in all that time. Egeon is about to be dismissed as a doddering old man when the Abbess enters. Antipholus of Ephesus Dromio of Ephesus Adriana of Ephesus, Antipholus’ wife Luciana of Ephesus, Adriana’s sister Duke of Ephesus Egeon Elderly merchant from Syracuse Abbess

Duke of Ephesus Actually, not only has the Abbess come, she’s brought with her Antipholus S. and Dromio S. FINALLY, everyone is face to face with the two sets of identical twins. After a bit of fussing, the Abbess explains everything. First, she reveals that, actually, she’s Emilia, Egeon’s long lost wife. After the shipwreck, her boys (one son and one servant) were taken from her by some Corinthian fisherman. She doesn’t know what happened to them from there, but she’s lived as a nun ever since. All of the confusion gets resolved and Egeon’s ransom is paid. Finally, Emilia ushers everyone into the abbey so they can talk over that bad, fateful day when they were separated, and the fateful day that’s brought them together again. Abbess Antipholus of Ephesus Antipholus of Syracuse Dromio of Ephesus Dromio of Syracuse Adriana of Ephesus, Antipholus’ wife Luciana of Ephesus, Adriana’s sister Emilia Wife of Egeon Egeon Elderly merchant from Syracuse