#014 The Comedy of Errors

06/26/19 • 100 min

“Are you a god? Would you create me new?”

New episode! In episode #14, why won’t anyone let Antipholus in? We’re discussing Shakespeare’s lightest, tightest play: The Comedy of Errors. Wander through the town square of Ephesus at your leisure. But perhaps don't accept any gifts from strangers....

You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at [email protected]. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. The Patreon campaign is up and running, with bonus Sonnet episodes! We also have a Spotify playlist, which will be updated as we work through the plays.

Key links below. You can also visit the bibliography page here, which is a work in progress.

Links mentioned:

Plautus, Menaechmi

Harold Bloom, The Invention of the Human (1998)

1988 TV network promo from Australia’s Channel Nine: “Still the One”

Syphilis: the “French disease”

Audio:

The Comedy of Errors, produced as part of the Caedmon Shakespeare (1962), with Finlay Currie (Aegeon), Alec McCowen (Antipholus of Syracuse), John Moffatt (Antipholus of Ephesus) and Mary Miller (Luciana)

The Comedy of Errors, produced as part of the Arkangel Shakespeare, with David Tennant (Antipholus of Syracuse), Jason O’Mara (Dromio of Ephesus), and Alan Cox (Dromio of Syracuse)

The Comedy of Errors, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 1950, with Patricia Norman (Courtesan) and unknown actors (Antipholus of Syracuse, Dromio of Syracuse, Adriana, Luciana)

The Comedy of Errors (1983), produced for the BBC by Shaun Sutton, directed by James Cellan Jones, with Michael Kitchen (Antipholus of Ephesus), Roger Daltrey (Dromio of Ephesus), Suzanne Bertish (Adriana), Joanne Pearce (Luciana), Wendy Hiller (Aemilia), David Kelly (Balthazar)

Music:

The Boys from Syracuse (1963 cast) with Cathryn Damon singing “Oh, Diogenes!”

The Boys from Syracuse (1997 cast):

“Sing for your Supper” ballet
The Twins ballet
“Let Antipholus In!” (finale from Act I)

Stephen Storace, Gli Equivoci (The Misunderstandings), opera after Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors (1786) with libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte

“Are you a god? Would you create me new?”

Key links below. You can also visit the bibliography page here, which is a work in progress.

Links mentioned:

Plautus, Menaechmi

Harold Bloom, The Invention of the Human (1998)

1988 TV network promo from Australia’s Channel Nine: “Still the One”

Syphilis: the “French disease”

Audio:

The Comedy of Errors, produced as part of the Arkangel Shakespeare, with David Tennant (Antipholus of Syracuse), Jason O’Mara (Dromio of Ephesus), and Alan Cox (Dromio of Syracuse)

The Comedy of Errors, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 1950, with Patricia Norman (Courtesan) and unknown actors (Antipholus of Syracuse, Dromio of Syracuse, Adriana, Luciana)

Music:

The Boys from Syracuse (1963 cast) with Cathryn Damon singing “Oh, Diogenes!”

The Boys from Syracuse (1997 cast):

“Sing for your Supper” ballet
The Twins ballet
“Let Antipholus In!” (finale from Act I)

Stephen Storace, Gli Equivoci (The Misunderstandings), opera after Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors (1786) with libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte

Previous Episode

#013 - Henry VI, Part 1: A History

“Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends.”

— Alençon, Act III, scene ii

In episode #13, a quick jaunt through the critical fortunes of Henry VI, Part 1, not an historically beloved play. From the “prequel” question to the plays role as a barometer of Britain’s feelings on nationalism, to just how many times a play can cut Talbot, Joan, or both! Come join me.

Listen to episodes at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Castbox, or download direct from Libsyn. The Patreon campaign is up and running, with bonus Sonnet episodes! You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at [email protected]. We also have a Spotify playlist, which will be updated as we work through the plays.

Key links below. You can also visit the bibliography page here, which is a work in progress.

Links mentioned:

E.M.W Tillyard and the “Tudor Myth”

Key source: Edward Hall, The Union of the Two Noble and Illustre Families of Lancaster and Yorke (1548)

Key source: Raphael Holinshed, Chronicles of England, Scotland ,and Ireland (1577)

E.K. Chambers, William Shakespeare: A Study of Facts and Problems, 1930

Thomas Nashe, Defence of Plays from “Pierce Penniless” (1592)

Emrys Jones, Origins of Shakespeare, 1977

Jonathan Bate, Genius of Shakespeare, 1997

Marjorie Garber, Shakespeare After All, 2004

“Shakespeare And Marlowe: Attributing Henry VI Authorship” – Folger Library

Festival of Britain, 1951

Birmingham Rep Theatre:

BBC AnAge of Kings (1960)

Royal Shakespeare Company

John Barton and Peter Hall, RSC Wars of the Roses (1963): “The Inheritance” and “Margaret of Anjou” on Youtube

Jane Howell, BBC The First Part of Henry the Sixt (1983) at BFI Screenonline

English Shakespeare Company: Wars of the Roses (1988) d: Michael Bogdanov

Jan Kott (1914-2001), Shakespeare Our Contemporary (1961) – profiled by Michael Billington in The Guardian

Edward Hall, Rose Rage (2001), Propeller Theatre Company

Shakespeare’s Rugby Wars: Toronto Fringe Festival

Michael Boyd, This England (2001) – Royal Shakespeare Company

Yushi Odashima, complete translations of Shakespeare into Japanese: at Oxford Reference

Bell Shakespeare, Wars of the Roses (2005 – 2008), reviewed b...

Next Episode

Brief update - A Journal of the Plague Year

Hello, friends! These are strange times, and I hope you are all well. This is a brief update to promise new content (you've heard that before!) and guarantee new-ish content over the next month.

You can contact me at: [email protected] or on Facebook and Twitter. Stay safe.