For the first time, Kelowna’s two oldest theatre companies, Shakespeare Kelowna and Theatre Kelowna, are combining creative forces to bring Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors to the people of the Okanagan.
It is one of William Shakespeare’s early plays. It is also his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from puns, wordplay, as well as a little bit of slapstick and mistaken identity.
Many people love Shakespeare and never miss a chance to see one of his plays. Other people shy away from him, thinking his language is inaccessible or just hard to follow. But is it?
Do you recognize any of these?
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,” or “this above all: to thine ownself be true” are both from Hamlet.
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,” is from Twelfth Night.
And “All that glitters is not gold,” is from the Merchant of Venice.
There is more than just a little bit of wisdom to be gleaned from the Bard.
The Comedy of Errors has its own share of wisdom, with lines such as “If she lives till doomsday, she’ll burn a week longer than the whole world.” But while that may sound like typical Shakespeare, this is Shakespeare with a modern twist, complete with a little Barenaked Ladies. Once again, the audience will be in for a visual feast, thanks to set designer Brian Haigh and set painter Ann Ganser, who, with their intricate set, will immediately transport you to right in the middle of the town of Ephesus.
Join Theatre Kelowna Society, Shakespeare Kelowna Society and the Rotary Centre for the Arts from May 17 – 28 for The Comedy of Errors, directed by veteran Kelowna actor and director Stephen Jefferys. Tickets available at the Rotary Centre for the Arts box office - 250-717-5304 or at www.rotarycentreforthearts.com.