Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors brings magic to Schwartz Center

Two sets of twins, separated at birth, are reunited in The Comedy of Errors, a hilarious and physically energetic Shakespeare masterpiece beginning Nov. 20 at Cornell's Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. This comedy features the talents of both students and professional actors including, from left, Jeff de Picciotto as Dromio of Ephesus, Matthew Keagle as Antipholus of Syracuse, Christopher Davis as Dromio of Syracuse and Resident Professional Teaching Associate Laurence Drozd as Antipholus of Ephesus. Thomas Hoebbel

Laugh as loud as you want at the upcoming performances of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors at Cornell's Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. This topsy-turvy maze of mistaken identity and major mishaps is a treat for the whole family. The Comedy of Errors opens tonight, Nov. 20, at 8, and evening performances continue Nov. 21-22 and Dec. 4-6. A matinee is offered Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. Discussions with the cast and production staff will follow the performances Friday, Nov. 21, and Thursday, Dec. 4.

One of Shakespeare's funniest plays, The Comedy of Errors also has been called his most accessible and is filled with surprises and intrigue. The plot revolves around two pairs of identical twins who are separated during a shipwreck. When all four men end up years later in Ephesus at the same time, the resulting chaos is bawdy Bard at his best.

"This play takes place in a world that is constantly shifting," said director Beth Milles, assistant professor of theater, who most recently directed The Miser at Cornell. "It shows that all life is liquid, and identities are often not what they appear."

As with The Miser, Milles teams up with composer Lewis Flinn to create an original music score based on improvisation with the show's actors. Flinn has written scores for numerous plays at New York City theaters as well as music for such corporations as Microsoft and Nestlé.

The Schwartz Center's production of The Comedy of Errors will feature four of its resident professional actors: Sarah K. Chalmers as the Abbess, Laurence Drozd as Antipholus of Ephesus, Marc Moritz as Pinch and Godfrey Simmons Jr. as Egeon. Cornell students cast in key roles include: Venkatesh Thattai as Solinus, Matthew Keagle as Antipholus of Syracuse, Chris Davis as Dromio of Syracuse, Jeff de Picciotto as Dromio of Ephesus, Danielle Thorpe as Adriana, Amin Kirdar as Luce and Krystal Bowden as Luciana.

The talented in-house designers at the Schwartz Center have created an illusionary seaport world for the city of Ephesus. The set and lights are designed by E.D. Intemann, costumes are by Sarah Bernstein and sound is by Warren Cross.

Tickets for The Comedy of Errors are $8 (students/seniors) and $10 (general) in advance. For tickets and information, call or visit the box office at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, 430 College Ave., 12:30-5:30 p.m. weekdays, or one hour before the show; 254-ARTS.