 THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE
a musical comedy in 2 Acts, 9 Scenes. ook by George Abbott, based on
the play The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, adapted
from 'Menaechmi' by Plautus.
Music by Richard
Rodgers. Lyrics by Lorenz
Hart.
Try-out: Shubert Theatre, New Haven and Shubert Theatre, Boston 1938.
New York run: Alvin Theatre 23.11.1938 - 10.6.1939 (235 perfs.). Revival:
15th April 1963 at Theatre Four, New York.
ORIGINAL CAST (in order of appearance):
The Masks: Robert Sidney, Harry Peterson.
Singing Policeman: Bob Lawrence.
Another Policeman: James Wilkinson.
Antipholus of Ephesus: RONALD GRAHAM.
Dromio of Ephesus: TEDDY HART.
Dancing Policeman: George Church.
Tailor: Clifford Dunstan.
Tailor's Apprentice: Burl Ives.
Antipholus of Syracuse: EDDIE ALBERT.
Dromio of Syracuse: JIMMY SAVO.
Merchant of Syracuse: Byron Shores.
Duke of Ephesus: Carroll Ashburn.
Aegeon: John O'Shaughnessy.
Luce: WYNN MURRAY.
Adriana: MURIEL ANGELUS.
Luciana: MARCY WESTCOTT.
Sorcerer: Owen Martin.
Courtesan: BETTY BRUCE.
Secretary to Courtesan: Heidi Vosseler.
Angelo: John Clarke.
First Maid: Florine Callahan.
Second Maid: Claire Wolf.
Third Maid: Alice Craig.
Merchant of Ephesus: Clifford Dunstan.
Seeress: Florence Fair.
Singers:
Grace Albert, Laura Kellogg, Dolores Anderson, Armonce Wilkins, Marguerite
Benton, Margaret Walsh, James Wilkinson, Joseph Scandor, Joe Granville,
Herbert Wood.
Dancers:
Libby Bennett, Ruth Brady, Renee Cettel, Stella Clausen, Alice Craig,
Bee Farnum, Ruth Gormly, Claire Harvey, Lita Lede, Connie Leslie, Vivien
Moore, Florine Callahan, Mildred Solly, Anna Mae Tesslo, Davenie Watson,
Betty De Elmo, Claire Wolf, Micky Alvarez, Sidney Gordon, Dan Karry,
Tommy Lynch, Jack Malis, Edwin Mills, Harry Peterson, Joe Harris, Lee
Tannen, Beau Tilden, Robert Howard, (Buddy Douglas). |
Story
Act I
Against a backdrop of Ancient Greece, the citizens
of Ephesus are baying for the death of AEGEAN, a merchant from Syracuse
- a city the Ephesians dislike. The DUKE will only reprieve him if
he can buy his way out of trouble. He explains that he had twin sons,
who had twin slaves, who were separated by a shipwreck and that he,
Aegean, came to Ephesus to look for them. Meanwhile Antipholus and
his slave Dromio of Ephesus (one half of the lost quartet) avoid paying
for some suits the tailor has made them whilst Antipholus and Dromio
of Syracuse (the other half) are warned by a merchant of Syracuse to
leave Ephesus as soon as possible. There now begins a whole series
of confusing mix-ups, whereby the citizens of Ephesus mistake Antipholus.
of Syracuse for Sir Antipholus of Ephesus, and each master mistakes
one Dromio for the other! ADRIANA, the wife of A. of E. (and that is
how we shall refer to them, to stop ourselves getting as confused as
the cast!), complains that her husband hardly ever comes home. She,
along with her cook LUCE (who is married to D. of E.) and LUCIANA,
her sister, set out to woo Antipholus back home. Due to the identical
looks of the twins, they bring home the 'boys from Syracuse'; when
A. of S. meets Luciana, they are transfixed by each other but convince
themselves that this can't be love.
When A. and D. of E. return home late after gallivanting
with the local courtesans, they find the doors bolted and Adriana and
Luce insisting that their real husbands are upstairs in bed with them!
The confusion continues and A. and D. of E. take refuge again with
the courtesans, who try by means of a ballet and general cosseting
to ease their befuddled minds.
Act II
In front of Adriana's house, A. of S. tells his slave
to find out when the next ship for Syracuse sails - he can't stand
Ephesus any longer and they're going home. Luciana is hurt when A.
of S. says Adriana means nothing to him - though she is obviously
upset that he is leaving. Further
mistaken identity confusion occurs over a gold chain that ANGELO
has made for Antipholus, but given to the wrong one!
Adriana comforts her crying sister (with sarcastic
interjections from Luce) saying that marriage always turns out different
to expectations and that you have to sing for your supper. The COURTESAN
is the next female to be hurt because of the confusion: A. (of S.)
denies knowing her and yet only the night before she was entertaining
A. (of E.)! She is as confused as the two Syracusans and longs for
an honest man. A. and D. of S. then get involved in
the confusion over the gold chain and a fight breaks out when A. is
accused of being a liar. They escape into the SEERESS' temple and hide.
As the Duke enters with Aegean, Adriana pleads with him to get her
husband back to his right mind, while he begs for justice against his
wife for locking him out of the house. The farcical confusion finally
resolves itself with the boys from Syracuse emerging from the temple
and recognising Aegean; the money for the gold chain is used by A.
of E. to free his father and safeguard his brother; the two Dromios
are reunited, as are Adriana with her Antipholus and Luciana with hers.
Luce embraces both Dromios, as the company end the show. However, love
has triumphed, as the Seeress reveals herself as Emelia Aegean's long-lost
wife and the two Antipholuses' mother!
|
Characters
AEGEAN |
The father of the two Antipholuses, he has spent seven years
looking for them. |
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS |
A womanising rogue who expects too much from his long-suffering
wife. A man of standing in the city - he is called 'Sir' - and uses
his position of authority and money for having a good time with
the Courtesans. |
DROMIO OF EPHESUS |
A doting slave who is dominated by his wife, Luce, and worried
for himself about coming home late with his master. |
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE |
A likeable character - unmarried, too! - who is completely
thrown by the confusion all around him. He is comically led on by
Adriana in her confusion, but is really smitten when he meets Luciana. |
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE |
A very comical character who is totally bemused by everything,
especially Luce's advances on him, with or without the rolling-pin. |
ADRIANA |
An under-satisfied wife, who is determined to make her us
a stay-at-home type. Pity she picks the wrong one! |
LUCE |
A dominating bundle who likes her man well under her thumb.
She picks the wrong one, too! |
LUCIANA |
More of a dreamer than her sister, she idealises about her
perfect husband. She is attracted by the idea of being in love and
Antipholus will do fine. |
COURTESAN |
A typical good-time girl who would secretly like to settle
down - but where to find that honest, reliable man? |
TAILOR |
The first victim of the mistaken identities, when two Antipholuses
buy identical suits from him. |
ANGELO |
The local goldsmith who has made a chain for one Antipholus,
only to find 'he' isn't wearing it, denies having had it and refuses
to pay for it! |
SORCERER |
A comical character, whose tricks are always offered at reduced
rates. |
SEERESS |
A formidable lady, who puts the last piece in the jigsaw
puzzle. |
DUKE |
Stern and a stickler for the rules, but he will sell mercy
at a price |
|
Musical Numbers
ACT 1
- Forward - The Masks
- "I Had Twins" - Singing Policemen, Ensemble
- "Dear Old Syracuse" - Dromio of Syracuse, Antipholus
of Syracuse, Dancers.
- "What Can You Do With a Man?" - Luce, Dromio of Ephesus
- "Falling in Love (With Love)" - Adriana, Ladies
- "(The) Shortest Day of the Year" - Antipholus of Ephesus,
Singer, Policemen
- This Can't Be Love" - Luciana, Antipholus of Syracuse
- "Let Antipholus In" - Entire Company
ACT 2
- "Ladies of the Evening" - Singing Policemen, Courtesans and
Dancers
- "He and She" - Luce, Dromio of Syracuse
- "You Have Cast Your Shadow (On the Sea)" - Luciana, Antipholus
of Syracuse
- "Come With Me" - Singing Policemen, Antipholus of Ephesus,
Angelo, Singers
- "Big Brother" - Dromio of Ephesus
- The Ballet - Danced by Dromio of Syracuse, Antipholus of Syracuse,
Luce, Dancers.
- "Sing for Your Supper" (Trio Arrangement by Hugh Martin.)
- Adriana, Luciana, Luce, Ladies
- "Oh, Diogenes" - Luce, Dancers, Ensemble.
- Happy Ending (Finale) - Entire Company
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