The Comedy of Errors

Two pairs of identicals twins, one pair the sons of a wealthy Syracusan merchant and the other pair of a more lowly condition purchased to be servants to the first, are seperated in a ship wreck. One twin of each pair is rescued by the merchant father of the well-born pair and raised in Syracuse. The other pair are seperated from the merchant's wife and raised in Ephesus by the uncle of the Duke there. By chance, both well-born children are named Antipholus, while the lowly bred pair are each named Dromio. Years later, when they are all adults, Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse arrive in Ephesus, not knowing their twins reside there. What follows is a comedy of mistaken identities as the two Antipholus's and Dromio's are confused in their interactions with each other and others.

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Aegeon is a merchant of Syracuse under sentence of death in Ephesus, where all Syracusans are barred, unless he can pay a huge ransom for his freedom. He tells of how, many years ago, on the island of Epidamnun, he was born of two identical twin sons, so alike no-one could tell them apart. At the same time, two other infants, also identical twin boys, were born to a mother of lower station and Aegeon purchased them as servants to his own two sons. But when he and his wife, Aemelia, insisted sailed home for Syracuse with the twins their ship was overcome by a storm and wrecked. Aegeon was rescued with one of each of the two pairs of twins, but his wife and the other children were carried a different way by the current. Aemelia was saved, but some Corinthian fishermen took the two children in her charge away from her by force, leaving her to return to Epidamnun alone and broken-hearted. Later she settled alone in Ephesus.

Aegeon returned to Syracuse and raised the two children left to him, naming his own boy Antipholus and the servant boy Dromio. Strangely, the lost twins bore the same names. Eventually, when his Antipholus (henceforth known as Antipholus of Syracuse) was old enough he betook himself, with his servant, to go off in search of his lost brother. Five years had since passed, and Aegeon, restless at home in his loneliness, had travelled the world until fate brought him to Ephesus.

Now it transpires that Antipholus and Dromio (of Syracuse) have also landed on Ephesus, and that the lost twins (henceforth known as Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus) were raised there, where they were brought by their captors and given to Duke Menaphon, and uncle of Duke Solinus who is the ruler of that place. On arrival, Antipholus (of Syracuse) sent his Dromio with a purse of money to deposit at the Centaur Inn. Soon after, at the market place, he encountered Dromio (of Ephesus) and, mistaking him for his own Dromio, demanded to know why he had not followed his orders and what he had done with the money. This Dromio, however, knew nothing of any money, but also mistaking this Antipholus for his master, explained that his mistress, Antipholus (of Ephesus) wife, had sent him to fetch him for dinner. Antipholus then threatened to beat Dromio for jesting, who fled back to his mistress.

Antipholus (of Syracuse) next arrives at the Centaur Inn to find that his money has indeed been deposited there. He leaves again but, shortly after, encounters two women who address him familiarly. They are Adriana, wife of Antipholus (of Ephesus), and Luciana, her sister, insisting he return home with them for dinner. Dromio (of Syracuse) arrives, backing up his master in not knowing the ladies, but the ladies are so insistent that Antipholus gives in and accompanies them home. During dinner, Antipholus and Dromio (of Ephesus) return to find themselves locked out. Antipholus hammers on the door but Dromio (of Syracuse) who has been set to guard it, not seeing who is outside, insults him and refuses to open the door. Eventually, Antipholus and Dromio (of Ephesus) leave, but this Antipholus is so annoyed with his wife that he determines to give a gold chain he is having made for her to someone else, and sends Dromio to purchase a rope to beat Adriana with.

Inside, Luciana, after Antipholus (of Syracuse) has denied his 'wife', tries to persuade him to be kinder to her, but Antipholus continues to insist that he has no wife and in fact declares his love for Luciana. Shocked, Luciana reports his advances to her sister. Leaving the house, Antipholus (of Syracuse) then encounters a goldsmith who presents him a gold chain and says he will collect payment later. The goldsmith is then beset by a creditor, a merchant, who demands payment of a debt the goldsmith owes him. The goldsmith explains to his creditor that he is owed payment on the chain which will cover the debt and, with the merchant in tow, goes off in search of Antipholus. He finds Antipholus (of Ephesus), who of course has not seen the chain and refuses to pay for it. The goldsmith calls a policeman to arrest Antipholus (of Ephesus) for non-payment of his debt. Just then, Dromio (of Syracuse) arrives, and Antipholus (of Ephesus) sends him to Adriana to fetch a purse from his desk to pay for his release.

Dromio does as he is bidden and Adriana, despite being furious with her husband, hands over the purse and instructs Dromio to go bring his master home immediately. Before he can reach the jail, however, he encounters Antipholus (of Syracuse) and surprises him by handing over the purse. A woman then approaches and insists that Antipholus hand over the chain he promised her and which he is now wearing. Again Antipholus is nonplussed and flees the scene. Meanwhile Antipholus (of Ephesus) is still waiting vainly for the money to purchase his release when Dromio (of Ephesus) finally returns with nothing but a rope! He beats Dromio in the street despite the remonstrance of the police officer. Adriana and Luciana then arrive with a doctor, having concluded that Antipholus must be suffering some form of temporary insanity. Adriana pays the debt to secure her husband's release and gives him, bound, into the custody of the doctor.

The goldsmith and his merchant creditor are reconciled and are chatting outside an abbey when Antipholus and Dromio (of Syracuse) arrive, with Antonio still wearing the gold chain round his neck! The merchants pounce upon Antipholus and demand to know what he meant by denying the receipt of the chain that he was now blatantly wearing. Antipholus becomes enraged at all this strange behaviour and draws his sword and begins to chase the merchants. Just then, Adriana arrives, surprised to see her husband at liberty, and calls for both Antipholus and Dromio to be disarmed and bound. The pair, fearing they are about to be robbed, flee into the abbey.

The Abbess then comes outside to remonstrate with the gathered crowd. Adriana insists that she be allowed into the abbey to recover her poor, mad husband. The Abbess refuses either to let Adriana take Antipholus or send him out since he has been granted sanctuary in the Abbey. Adriana then appeals to Duke Solinus for aid and he promptly appears accompanied by Aegeon and the headsman - Aegeon's execution now drawing near. The Duke summons the Abbess but at that a moment a messenger arrives with the news that Antipholus has escaped from the doctor's custody. Antipholus and Dromio (of Ephesus) then arrive, and Antipholus appeals to the Duke to arrest his wife for having him bound and carried away, explaining how he had escaped by gnawing through his bonds.

Everyone is amazed at the appearance of Antipholus who was seen to enter the abbey and not come out. Aegeon, meanwhile, recognises his son, but Antipholus, not being the brother who was raised by Aegeon does not recognise him. Aegeon thinks his son is too ashamed to acknowledge him in his current sorry state. Just then the Abbess comes back outside with Antipholus and Dromio (of Syracuse). Adriana is shocked at seeing two images of her husband before her, Antipholus (of Syracuse) recognises his father, and the Abbess declares that she will pay the ransom for Aegeon's release.

The Abbess then explains that she is Aemilia, Aegeon's lost wife and mother of the two Antipholuses. The Duke is touched by the moving story and frees Aegeon, foregoing the ransom. Aegeon and Aemilia are reunited, Adriana and Antipholus (of Ephesus) are reconciled, and Antipholus (of Syracuse) proposes to Luciana who readily accepts him. The two Dromios are simply happy not to be beaten again.