Starting today and galloping well into the weekend, DePauw University theatre students present a version of Shakespeare's play "The Comedy of Errors" set in the Wild West.
The performances will take place today, tomorrow and Sunday in Moore Theatre at 7:30 p.m., as well as a performance on Monday just after high noon, at 1:00 p.m.
While the original comedy was written by William Shakespeare in 1594, director Andrew Hayes created DePauw's cow-poke setting. Hayes is an associate professor of communication and theatre and chair of the department at DePauw.
Junior André Williams, who plays a pirate and a sailor in the play, found the new perspective intriguing.
"What I love about comedy is that it's a very different take on Shakespeare while staying true to his writing," Williams said. "Who else does Shakespeare in a western style?"
While this is one of Shakespeare's shortest plays, it is chock-full of slapstick comedy and an array of word play.
"I'm always a little hesitant of Shakespearean comedies because the language can create a disconnect with the timing of the jokes," said first-year Jeremy Boyd, who plays the part of Dromio, "but the energy of the cast and the humor of the show itself comes through really well."
The play has been adapted for opera, stage, screen and musical theatre, and was on Broadway as early as 1889. On campus, the play will be a dramatic performance.
"The Comedy of Errors" revolves around two sets of identical twins that were separated at birth. As fate would have it, the twins are thrown into the same world. In DePauw's version, the twins find themselves is the American West of the 1870s.
One set of twins, Antipholis of Monterey and Antipholis of Omaha ends up in Monterey, Calif., where they meet each other and the other set of twins, Dromio of Omaha and Dromio of Monterey.
Nothing can go well from there as identities become confused and things go awry. Wives mistake husbands, masters mistake servants and chaos soon follows.
The actors have been preparing these performances for a little less than three months.
"There is a very dedicated cast who has done a great job of bringing the characters to life," said sophomore Kate Porfilio in an email. "You can't help but love a Shakespeare comedy."
Porfilio plays the part of Francesca.
There are 13 main cast members present on the stage, as well as countless behind the scenes members and extras throughout the performance.
"Each performer brings a unique dynamic that makes an empowering and awesome performance," first-year Evan Hart said in an email. Hart plays Antipholis of Monterey in the play, in an email. "The show is just really good."
Both Hart and Ben Crider, who plays Antipholis of Omaha, are immensely similar in looks and movements, adding even more credibility to the storyline.
The props and costumes augment the incredible acting done by the performers, creating the look and feel of western America. The stage sports western-style guns and knives and looks like the set of a John Wayne movie.
Cast members sport 1800s suits and hats that go along with their chorale weaponry. To help the audience tell the twins apart, the brothers don different colored sashes and ties.
Cast members hope to incorporate their own energy into the energy of the audience during each performance.
"I think my favorite part of the show is just the overall energy everyone brings to the table," Boyd said. "I'm incredibly proud to be a part of this production and can't wait to see how the audience will react to it."
Tickets can be purchased on the DePauw theatre website for $6 for general admission and $3 for students.
After tonight's performance, there will be a reception in the Great Hall in the Green Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate the opening of the show.
Following tomorrow's show will be a talk-back session. Audience members are encouraged to ask the cast and crew about the production of "The Comedy of Errors."