Synopses & Reviews
Ros King provides a completely new Introduction to the existing text and commentary for this updated edition of The Comedy of Errors. She argues that the play cannot be regarded only as a farcical romp based on a classical model, but should be considered part of a critically misunderstood genre of tragi-comedy. Stressing the play's underlying seriousness, the Introduction pays special attention to its religious imagery. First Edition Hb (1988): 0-521-22153-6 First Edition Pb (1988): 0-521-29368-5
Review
"King's lively introduction and helpful new bibliography constitute a very welcome updating of the Dorsch edition and shed some new light on one of Shakespeare's early comic masterpieces." - The Sixteenth Century Journal Thomas G. Olsen, State University of New York at New Paltz
Synopsis
For this updated edition of The Comedy of Errors, Ros King has provided a completely new Introduction to the existing text and commentary, in which she argues that the play cannot be regarded merely as a farcical romp based on a classical model, but belongs to the critically misunderstood genre of tragi-comedy. In stressing the seriousness which underlies the story, the Introduction picks out the play's religious imagery for special attention, whilst also engaging fully with the play's deft lightness of touch and its continuing popularity in the theatre.
Synopsis
'This play has been popular on the stage during the last three centuries and has proved itself admirably suited to adaptation as pure farce and musical spectacle. Professor Dorsch\'s account of staging pays special attention to the earliest known performance at Gray\'s Inn Hall during the Christmas revels of 1594.\n
'
Synopsis
Dorsch's account of staging performances at Gray's Inn Hall during the Christmas revels of 1594.
Table of Contents
List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Preface to first edition; Abbreviations; Introduction by Ros King: Shakespeare's main source: Plautus's Menaechmi; Shakespeare's first tragicomedy; Shakespeare's schooling and the construction of The Comedy of Errors; Casting the twins; Verse form and metrication; The first known performance: Gray's Inn 1594; Later productions; Note on the text; List of characters; THE PLAY; Appendixes: 1. The performance of 1594; 2. Passages from the Bible; Reading list.