The Comedy of Errors 1995

Performed by the LSC at The Lawn, Lincoln

28th February - 4th March 1995

Director: Simon Hollingworth

Assistant Director: Rob Smith

Music: Nikki-Kate Heyes and Liz Lucas

Cast

Solinus, Duke of Ephesus: Colin Brimblecombe

Egeon: Neil Perkins

Antipholus of Syracuse: Richard Jones

Antipholus of Ephesus: Dave Clayton

Dromio of Syracuse: John Armitage

Dromio of Ephesus: Rob Smith

Adriana: Jo Smith

Luciana: Jo Clark

First Merchant: Simon Clark

Angelo: Paul Corbett

Balthasar: Karen Harrison

Second Merchant: Simon Clark

Nell: Colin Brimblecombe

Courtesan: Karen Harrison

Dr Pinch: Simon Clark

Emilia: Liz Lucas

Officer: Simon Hollingworth

Two sets of identical twins, one set lords, the other set servants, are separated in a shipwreck in which the parents of the lords are also separated! The separated lords are both called, confusingly, Antipholus, and their respective servants are, just as confusingly, both called Dromio. The play begins in Ephesus (where one Antipholus and Dromio live) with the arrest of Egeon, the other Antipholus' father, who is condemned to death unless he can raise money to pay a fine. The other Antipholus and Dromio arrive in Ephesus and are continually mistaken for their resident brothers. Things get horribly complicated with husband and wife at loggerheads, various confused merchants, increasingly baffled Antipholi and Dromios, a mad doctor, a concubine, and an Abbess who turns out to be Egoun's wife and the Antipholus' mother! The story resolves with the family restored and Egeon's death sentence revoked.

" 'Never work with animals...'

This saying should be changed to 'stuffed toy animals' as my lasting memory of 'Comedy of Errors' has to be being upstaged every night by a furry elephant. Coming on between scenes as Egeon, begging for money for my release, when the elephant joined me it brought the house down and I also had audience members throwing money (although one night it was a handful of French Francs!) A very enjoyable production, but two years later, I remember being upstaged by a sheep glove puppet in 'As You Like It'. Will I never learn!"

Neil Perkins, 'Egeon'.

"SUPERB... a comedy of excellence"

LD, Lincoln Standard February 1995