Without any doubt ’Comedy of Errors’ is the funniest of Shakespeare’s plays.With two pairs of identical twins operating each is always being mistaken for the other.One of the twins involved has a wife who is quite a character herself.Her views on marriage and her man are quite striking.Her younger sister is equally submissive which again is funny.This play has been enacted in many indian languages.It has been made into a hindi film, the laugh-riot ’Angoor’.What makes this play such a success is its simplicity and direct narrative.It is filled with mirth and brightness.Its a very very short play and will bring smiles to the lips of everyone.
The story.Aegeon and his wife Aemilia live in Syracuse.On the day the couple has twins in a inn another woman also delivers two boys.The latter boys are bought as slaves.While travelling to their homeland in a ship both pairs of twins are separated. One slave remains with each of Aegeon’s sons.The richer twins are both called Antipholus while the slaves are known as Dromio.When he is eighteen Antipholus from Syracuse sets out to find his twin who is in employment of the Duke of Ephesus.The latter brother has a wife Adriana whose sister is Luciana.When Antipholus fails to turn up for lunch and doesn’t bring a promised ornament all hell breaks loose.One Antipholus is mistaken for the other.Luciana is propositioned by her supposed brother-in-law.The rightful owner is thrown out of his quarters and jailed for perjury. Later he is treated for madness.Aegeon is about to be excuted for trespassing.Fate and some hilarious incidents intervene to unite the estranged family.