Two sets of twins are separated at birth by a storm at sea: a pair of
masters (both named Antipholus) and a pair of servants (both named
Dromio). Years later, the Antipholus-and- Dromio pair raised in Syracuse
happen to visit Ephesus, where the respective twins reside -- providing
the basis for ongoing incidents of mistaken identity, within a lively
plot of quarrels, arrests, and a grand courtroom denouement.
Based on a pair of comic dramas from ancient Rome, The Comedy of
Errors presents a spectacle of pure farce in the spirit of utmost fun
and -- as the title suggests -- hilarious confusion. One of
Shakespeare's earliest dramatic efforts, the play abounds in his
trademark conceits, puns, and other forms of fanciful wordplay. It also
foreshadows his later and greatest comedies, offering students and
scholars a valuable key to the playwright's development.