#antipholus of Syracuse

[aq2003]

david tennant + shakespeare

[emotinalsupportturtle]

..and he wrote them for David Tennant

[grayjoy15]

My brother’s theater is doing the Comedy of Errors and has a montage of “where are they now?” at the end. Antipholus of Syracuse does not get his own slide, he’s just tacked on to Luciana’s in reference to their marriage and then it goes on to describe Luciana’s successful business career. Hence, he’s just Antipholus 😎

[yorktaylor]

no bc hamlet has the most shakespearean shakespeare death ever. bro gets killed by getting stabbed by a guy named laertes with a sword that was poisoned by a guy named claudius

[benvoolioo]

*points to The Comedy of Errors* Your honour, that is my emotional support plot hole ridden Shakespearean farce

[consanguinitatum]

David in rep: 2000's The Rivals, The Comedy Of Errors and Romeo and Juliet

In the recent Putting It Together podcast - which was utterly brilliant and something you should go listen to RIGHT HERE IMMEDIATELY if you haven't already! - David mentions his rep seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he did three plays in rep. His first rep season was in 1996 (when he did The General From America, As You Like It, and The Herbal Bed). His second rep season came around in 2000-2001, when he did simultaneous runs in Romeo and Juliet, The Comedy Of Errors, and The Rivals. I recently found an amazing July 2000 article about this series of plays, and I'd like to share some of its precious informative nuggets as well as talk a bit about each production.

As mentioned, the three productions ran in rep. For you non-theatre types, that means each production would rotate nights. For example, if The Rivals was on a Monday, The Comedy of Errors might go on Tuesday, then Romeo and Juliet on Wednesday…and then the schedule would rotate back to the beginning. Get the picture? Good.

Let's begin in January 2000.

That January, David arrived in Stratford and took a flat near Anne Hathaway's cottage so he could begin rehearsals for two of the three productions: The Rivals (and his role as Jack Absolute) and The Comedy Of Errors (as Antipholus of Syracuse). He added a third role to his schedule in late April or early May 2000 when rehearsals began for his role as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.

As you can imagine with this kind of schedule, David was soon running himself ragged. Rehearsal followed by show, followed by rehearsal…again and again and again. He had to leave some rehearsals early to do warm-ups for one of the other shows before going on. As he said in the podcast I mentioned above, this brutal schedule left him "battered." However, once all the plays went into production and left rehearsals behind, he only (only?) had to do eight shows a week and would get days off here and there. He called it "quite full on," but said it was either that or not get the parts at all.

The first of these three productions - The Rivals - began its run at Stratford's Swan Theatre from late March til early October 2000. It then ran at the Newcastle Playhouse from late October 2000 to early November 2000. Then it went to London's Barbican Theatre from mid December 2000 until April 2001.

The Rivals programmes from my personal collection - the one on the left is from the Stratford run, and on the right from the Newcastle run

The Rivals centers around the complicated relationship between Lydia Languish and strategizing young lover Captain Jack Absolute. David played the role of Jack, who pretends to be a soldier named Ensign Beverly to win Lydia's affections. He knows Lydia, a wealthy young woman who wants to marry for love, not money, would have no interest in him if she thought he were rich (more about the play can be found here).

Fans have seen some of the photos from this production: this famous photo of David in a door frame by Simon Annand is but one. The comment Mr. Annand made about his memories of that shot is also interesting, I think, and I include it here.

Other photos of this production were taken by Chris Parker, among others.

But here's where it gets good. From the article I mentioned, we are treated to these brand new photos! In the first, he's in his dressing room getting ready for his performance as Jack Absolute. In the second he's in the makeup chair getting his hair and makeup checked, and in the third, at his dressing room table taking his makeup off after a show.

The second of the three productions - The Comedy Of Errors - began its run at Stratford's Royal Shakespeare Theatre from mid April to early October 2000. It ran at Newcastle's Theatre Royal in mid November 2000, then went to London's Barbican Theatre from late Nov 2000 until early Feb 2001.

The Comedy Of Errors programmes from my personal collection - the one on the left is from the Stratford run, and on the right from the Newcastle run

David played Antipholus of Syracuse, who was raised by his father Egeon in Syracuse and is one of a set of long-separated identical twins. His mother, Aemilia, and brother, Antipholus, live in Ephesus. A of S is the only figure to whom Shakespeare grants an interior life, and his quest to find his mother and sibling comes with a series of wild mishaps based on mistaken identities (more about the play can be found here.)

But again from the article I mentioned, here are a few brand new photos of David relating to this production! In one, he's relaxing in the Green Room. In another, he's waiting to go onstage as Antipholus, and in the third, he's hanging backstage with fellow actors Des Barritt and David Troughton from Henry IV, Part 1!

The third of the three productions - Romeo and Juliet - began its run at Stratford's Royal Shakespeare Theatre from late June to early October 2000. It ran at Newcastle's Theatre Royal in mid November 2000, then transferred to London's Barbican Theatre from mid January 2001 until early March 2001.

The Romeo and Juliet Stratford run programme is from my personal collection; the Newcastle run poster is from the RSC

David played the lead role of Romeo - a role I hope I need not explain to anyone in depth? David himself wrote a lot about his experiences in the role, and if you're curious you can pop over right here to read the essay he wrote. And if you want to see a ton of photos from the production itself, the lovely mizgnomer did this extensive thread of them some time ago that you should definitely check out!

One of the things he had to do as Romeo was duel Tybalt and Paris, which meant David had to practice fight scenes in rehearsals (something he wasn't completely unfamiliar with, by the way, as he did fencing in drama school - and he was quite good at it, too). Anyway - cue this fabulous photo of David during rehearsals!

And the article also proves David can be cheeky indeed!

In rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet, the article says, it reveals it was David who suggested inserting a scene full of filthy puns into Act II, Scene I, where the hung-over Montague lads go in search of Romeo. And during another part of the rehearsal, David asks director Michael Boyd, "When I enter for this scene, do I come out of the fallopian tube?" - no doubt referring to this part of the set!

Well that's it - and oh yes, I must give credit where credit is due! All the new photos are by Robert Workman from a 2000 Scotland On Sunday article entitled, "Enter Mr. Tennant, centre stage", and all are copyrighted by National World Publishing, Ltd.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't leave you with a teeny glimpse of DT as Romeo!

[medium-observation]

OCTOBER RELEASE

The Comedy of Errors - Shakespeare Theatre Company

September 26, 2024- Medium Observation

Video

Cast:

Christian Thompson (Antipholus of Syracuse), Ralph Adriel Johnson (Antipholus of Ephesus), Alex Brightman (Dromio of Syracuse), David Fynn (Dromio of Ephesus), Jacob Brandt (Roderigo), Kimberly Dodson (Thaisa), Ro Boddie (Balthasar), Eric Hissom (Duke Solinus), Cloteal L. Horne (Luciana), Camilo Linares (Sergeant/Officer), Ms. Amanda Naughton (Emilia), Paige Rammelkamp (Marina), Lauren Jeanne Thomas (u/s Angela), Timothy D. Stickney (Egeon), Shayvawn Webster (Adriana)

Notes:

Excellent Capture of this incredibly hilarious production. Due to my seat some things are cut off on the right, HOWEVER lucky for you when you buy this video you get Theatrecouple14's video also! that video will be released with mine and it's the only way to receive his video. His video will follow the same nft date and rules as mine. Some washout, shakiness and readjusting throughout.

NFT Date: April 1st, 2025

Screenshots: https://www.flickr.com/gp/196227588@N02/2H3WU946H1

Video is $20

Hadestown - First US National Tour

February 21, 2024 - Medium Observation

Video

Cast:

J Antonio Rodriguez (Orpheus), Amaya Braganza (Eurydice), Matthew Patrick Quinn (Hades), Lana Gordon (Persephone), Will Mann (Hermes), Lizzie Markson (Fate), Hannah Schreer (Fate), Marla Louissaint (Fate), Sevon Askew (Worker), Jamal Lee Harris (Worker), Cate Hayman (Worker), Quiana Onrae'l Holmes (Worker), Daniel Tracht (Worker)

Notes:

Absolutely Fantastic capture of this incredible cast. Definitely my magnum opus hadestown recording. Some washout, shakiness and readjusting throughout.

NFT Date: April 1st, 2025

Screenshots: https://www.flickr.com/gp/196227588@N02/ZLNF23H27R

Video is $20

Videos can be purchased through me at mediumobservationtrading@gmail.com

[lennjamin-o7]

I haven't seen anyone mention it, but I am cackling at having Wilbur play Antipholus of Syracuse in Cribbed. The Comedy of Errors in one of my fave shakespeare plays.

And, if you don't know what it's about, it's about long lost twins trying to find their twin lololol. It's very silly and I highly recommend it. It's a comedy and if you ever have a chance to see jt live, I definitely recommend it.

[bookholichany]

Shakespeare characters that are living in my head sounding like David Tennant for eternity:

Benedick, Mercutio, Hamlet, Macbeth, Edgar, Richard II, Antipholus of Syracuse.

[gleedreamcasts]

The Comedy of Errors

requested by me!

Kurt Hummel as Antipholus of Syracuse

Finn Hudson as Antipholus of Ephesus

Mike Chang as Dromio of Syracuse

Sam Evans as Dromio of Ephesus

Rachel Berry as Adrianna

Marley Rose as Luciana

Joe Hart as Egeon

Mercedes Jones as Emilia

Madison McCarthy as Balthazar

Mason McCarthy as Angelo

Quinn Fabray as Duke Solinus

Tina Cohen-Chang as The Courtesan

Sugar Motta as Nell

[socialshakespeare]

Reading 1: Saturday, May 13

The first read-through of The Comedy of Errors.

(Most of you are double or triple cast, so double check which lines you have to read.) You can look up the lines of the characters here. The names listed below all go with the Folger Edition.

Please submit your confirmation or any request to understudy here. If you’re in any doubt, please ask.

Times and time zones:

EDT (US): 2:00 PM CDT (US): 1:00 PM MDT (US): 12:00 PM PDT (US): 11:00 AM BST (UK): 7:00 PM AEST (AU): 4:00 AM (Sunday, May 14)

Leader: @purplemuskrat

Cast:

Antipholus Of Syracuse: @cobbled-vibrance Adriana: @wildechild Dromio Of Syracuse: @bottom-of-the-riverbed Antipholus Of Ephesus: @astrangergivingthestrangewelcome Dromio Of Ephesus: @sunnnymornings Egeon, Officer: @purplemuskrat Angelo, Abbess: @thestorywitch 2nd Merchant, Duke, Pinch: @trashprinceofdenmark Luciana, Luce, Jailer: @ingridarcher Courtesan, Balthasar, 1st Merchant, Messenger: @sinformesymphony Listener: @d-avld Listener: @samanthahirr

Please submit your confirmation here - liking/reblogging this post does not count!

Read the Guidelines. To avoid the differences between editions that make for confusion and missed cues, please use the Folger edition of The Comedy of Errors during the read-through.

Be on time, be prepared, and make sure you know which lines to read. Good luck!

[alexriclondon]

On Sonnet 111 and Shakespeare’s facsimiles

Blog Post 1

On Sonnet 111 and Shakespeare’s facsimiles

It was Plato who coined the theory of mimesis, that all art is inherently imitations of life, and everything created is a copy of something else. That the only true artifact is what was created by God, and that craftsmen and artists only make imitations. Shakespeare is the creator of his works, and modern adaptations are imitations, homages and interpretations. Then, if we go a step further and posit that Shakespeare himself is the only true artifact of himself, then all we know of him, all his works, are his facsimiles.

In his sonnets, the analytical eye can gather and interpret his words to be evidence for how he felt, or to find an approximation for who he was as a person. However, within his own work, we can only see an adaptation of himself as he had to limit his self-expression to his sonnet’s format, and we only see him as his image, not as his true self.

Even as we analyze and speculate his behavior and personality from his work, we are only seeing the same personage he has created, not him himself. If we look at his sonnet 111, we can see how he felt about his own fame and how detached he felt during his lifetime. Shakespeare writes, “Thence comes it that my name receives a brand,/ And almost thence my nature is subdu'd/ To what it works in, like the dyer's hand” (ln. 5-7). In this, he says that his own name is a brand, like a cattle brand. A facade for public audiences that has been stamped over his true self. He then says that his own nature is subdued, and that his hands are stained like the hands of someone who dyes fabrics. This relates to how the world views him, not for who he is, but for the popular image and public opinion that has formed around him. This identity frustration is evident in this sonnet as well as in the play “A Comedy of Errors''.

Within the play, two sets of twins are consistently mistaken for their counterparts. As only the audience is the wiser to the different characters, hijinks ensue. While on the outside it is a comedy, there are clear undertones of identity struggles, personal existential crises, and moments of characters questioning their mental health and sanity.

In Act 2, scene 2, Antipholus of Syracuse questions his sanity after his servant has no recollection of their discussion. Shakespeare writes, “Am I in earth, in heaven, or in hell?/ Sleeping or waking? mad or well-advised?/ Known unto these, and to myself disguised!” (2.2.12-14). During this time, Antipholus is questioning his sanity, questioning if he is really in this situation, if he’s awake or losing his mind as he recalls an event that the other doesn’t remember. Throughout the play there are instances of questioning if the characters are themselves or if they are copies or con artists. There is definitely a theme of identity and public image within the play. And the notion of questioning one’s own realness also ties back to the theory of imitations and mimesis.

Within the same sonnet, sonnet 111, Shakespeare also expresses his desire to change his public image at the time. In that same sonnet he writes, “Nor double penance, to correct correction” (12). In this he expresses that he would repent or atone in any way if it would correct the way the public views him. At this point, the public had created a “correct” version of Shakespeare, and this public image was washing out who he was as a person. This line tells us that he would correct this image if he could and exist as his true self. We don’t know who the real Shakespeare was, we only know him by his public image, and the copies and adaptations of his work.

[queersrus]

Shakespeare name list

a list of names from a handful of his most popular plays!

Ado, Apemantus, Antipholus, Archidamus

Beatrice, Benedick, Bardolph, Bassanio

Caesar, Claudius, Caliban, Cordel/Cordell/Cordele, Cordelia/Cordellia

Denmark, Dream, Desmond, Desmona, Desdemona, Domitius

Error, Edmund, Enobarbus

Falstaff, Friar, Fortinbras

Hamlet, Henry/Henri, Horatio/Horacio

Juliet/Juliette, Julieta/Julietta, Julius, Jessica

King, Kath, Kathrine/Katherine/Katharine, Katherina/Katharina, Katarina/Katerina, katrine, Katrina, Katrin, Kathie/Kathy, Kate, Kati/Katie/Katy

Lear, lago, Lock, Laertes, Lysa, Lysander, Loren, Lorene, Lorence, Lorenz/Lorenze, Lorens, Lauren, Laurence/Lawrence, Leo, Leon, Leontes

Merchant, Macbeth, Mercutio, Mona, Macduff, Malvolio, Minola

Night, Nick

Othello, Ophelia, Oberon, Osric

Portia, Prince, Prospero, Puck, Petruchio, Polonius, Perdita

Romeo, Richard, Rosalind, Robert

Summer, Shrew, Shy, Shylock, Shallow, Syracuse, Sycora, Sycorax

Twelve, Tempest, Tale, Titania

Venice, Viola

Winter

[bryndeavour]

Psst! Ahoy to my favourite Simon Harrison fan! I thought you might like to know that the Shakespeare's Globe Online site has now put up the production of "The Comedy of Errors" from 2014 with Simon as Antipholus of Syracuse. I took a wee screencap, though apologies that it is not very good as my computer always puts a ridiculous delay on screencaps in Linux:

I don't fancy him as Box myself at *all*, but he does look rather smashing with that beard I think. :-)

Hey! Thanks! I do already own that performance and i LOVE it. Genuinely hilarious. I watch it at least once a year. You can probaly find a ton of gifs of it if you dig through my blog!!

I do appreciate the shout outs for all the simon harrison things very much!

[starkiddreamcasting]

Hi! Would you ever cast Starkid in The Comedy of Errors? 😘

First dreamcast of 2023! And it's William Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors! Apologies for the delay on this ask, I didn't know if you meant the play or the musical (hopefully you meant the play). I hope you enjoy and I'll continue making dreamcasts into the new year.

Dylan Saunders as Antipholus of Syracuse

Jeff Blim as Antipholus of Ephesus

Brian Holden as Dromio of Syracuse

Jon Matteson as Dromio of Ephesus

Jaime Lyn Beatty as Adriana

Kim Whalen as Luciana

Corey Dorris as Solinus

Chris Allen as Egeon

Britney Coleman as Aemilia

James Tolbert as Angelo

Nick Lang as Pinch/First Merchant

Angela Giarratana as Luce/Messenger

Brain Rosenthal as Balthasar/Second Merchant

Joe Moses as Gaoler/Officer/Headsman

Alex Paul as Courtesan

Understudies: Tyler Brunsman (Dromio of Syracuse, Dromio of Ephesus), Jamie Burns (Adriana, Aemilia, Luce/Messenger), Brant Cox (Angelo, Balthasar/Second Merchant, Gaoler/Officer/Headsman), Nick Gage (Antipholus of Syracuse, Antipholus of Ephesus, Egeon), Joe Moses (Solinus, Pinch/First Merchant), Alex Paul (Luciana)

Make sure to leave any show suggestions or any questions on my casting choices so I can explain them.

[readingrecap]

🎭 "The Comedy of Errors" Premiers Tonight

Quannapowitt Players Presents William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” from March 22-April 7. Tickets are still available for tonight’s premiere are still available by the link below. It’s double the trouble and double the fun as we follow the mishaps and mayhem created by Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse as they search for their lost family. While in Ephesus, the pair is thrown into a…