 |
(The Dachshund Version)
The Dachshund Players are at it again. This time they tackle
Shakespeare's zaniest comedy: there's not one set of twins — there's two..
Aegon, a merchant from Syracuse, is brought before Duke Solinus of Ephesus
for being a Syracusian in a non-Syracusian zone. In fact, being a Syracusian in
Ephesus is punsishable by a 1,000 mark fine or death.
Aegeon tries to win mercy from the court by explaining that he's searching
for his sons. One son was lost long ago (along with his servant) in a shipwreck
that also claimed Aegeon's wife
The other son, his twin, rescued with his servant, also a twin, has gone
looking for his lost brother and Aegeon is looking for them. All the mercy
Aegeon gets is 24 hours to come up with the fine.
Unknown to Aegeon, and unaware of their peril, the two searching twins,
Antipholus and his servant Dromio, arrive in Ephesus. Dromio is sent to arrange
accommodation and "scope out" the town.
Antipholus (of Syracuse) continues to search and meets ... Dromio of Ephesus
(i.e.. his lost brother's equally lost servant). This Dromio tries to get
Antipholus to hurry home as his wife has dinner ready. Of course, Antipholus,
who isn't married, doesn't know what Dromio means and each think the other is
acting very strangely.
Adriana, Antipholus of Ephesus' wife, and her sister Luciana await her
husband's arrival — rather impatiently because dinner is spoiling.
Dromio (E) returns home and tells them of his weird encounter with the
master. Concerned, the two women go looking for Antipholus.
They meet Antipholus (S) and Dromio (S) who are totally puzzled by the
women's behaviors. Antipholus denies being married to Adriana. Dromio denies
he's ever met them. Really worried, Adriana persuades them to come home to
dinner.
Shortly later, Antipholus of Ephesus, who has been found by Dromio (E)
arrives home for dinner — but the two are not allowed in the house. Dromio (E)
even quarrels with Dromio (S) through the locked door.
Antipholus (E) goes away, furious, and seeks consolation in the arms of the
courtesan, Juliana. Still smarting at his wife's cavalier treatment , he
promises the gold chain he had commissioned for Adriana to Juliana.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Antipholus (S) finds himself mightily attracted
to Luciana, Adriana sister. Since she thinks he's her brother-in-law, she's
properly horrified and rejects his advances.
Dromio (S) too has a romantic entanglement. Evidently he's engaged to the
kitchen wench. He's not the least bit sorry when his master orders him to go to
the harbor and find a ship that's leaving this crazy place soon.
While Antipholus (S) waits for Dromio (S) to return, Angelo the goldsmith
comes by with the gold chain. Antipholus days it's not his, and Angelo thinks
he's joking. He presses the chain on Antipholus (S) and says he'll collect the
money later.
Antipholus (E) still can't get into his house so he sends Dromio (E) to buy
a rope.
Angelo finds Antipholus (E) and asks for payment for the chain. Antipholus
(E) claims he never received it. Knowing that Dromio has been asking about
ships, the goldsmith concludes that Antipholus means to skip town, and has him
arrested.
Dromio (S) comes in with news of ships. ("Confirmed!" thinks
Angelo.) Antipholus (E) is puzzled but sends Dromio (S) to Adriana for bail
money. (Adriana is rich.)
Luciana tells Adriana of Antipholus' odd behavior toward her. Then Dromio
(S) arrives in a dither about Antipholus being arrested. Adriana sends the money
immediately.
Of course, Dromio (S) runs into Antipholus (S), and thinking he has talked
his way out of prison, gives him the bail money.
Juliana, the courtesan, arrives on the scene, furious. She demands the chain
she has been promised, or the return of the diamond ring that she gave him.
Antipholus (S) who never made the promise or received the gift, refuses.
Juliana thinks Antipholus is mad, but 40 ducats is too much to lose. She'll
go to Adriana.
Antipholus (E) has in fact talked his way out of jail. He meets Dromio (E)
who knows nothing about the arrest. He's been sent to buy a rope and he's got
that.
Adriana and Luciana catch up with Antipholus (E) and Dromio (E). Worried
about their sanity, they have them tied up and taken to the dubious Doctor
Pinch.
The goldsmith catches up with Antipholus (S) who is wearing the chain.
Shocked that Antipholus would so openly flaunt what he has denied owning, the
goldsmith draws his sword. Adriana and Luciana arrive to add to the confusion.
Antipholus (S) and Dromio (S) escape the melee by running into a nearby
abbey.
Meanwhile, Antipholus (E) and Dromio (E) have escaped from Doctor Pinch.
They want to tell the story of the injustices they've suffered to the Duke.
Juliana, Luciana, Adriana and Angelo do too.
In the midst of all this noise, the Abbess arrives with Antipholus (S) and
Dromio (S) in tow. Everyone is shocked into silence.
And of course, everything begins to work out: both sets of brothers are
reunited ...
Antipholus of Syracuse is free to marry Luciana ...
Angelo is paid for his chain ...
And Aegeon (remember him?) is let out of prison to find not only his sons
but also his lost wife — Emelia the Abbess. All ends happily.
Chilliwack Senior Secondary School
Chilliwack. BC, Canada
|