The Comedy of Errors, one of Shakespeare's earliest plays, is also his shortest and one of his most farcical—a major part of the humor derived from slapstick, puns, and wordplay. Shakespeare sets all this action in one day and features a theme that recurs throughout his work: blending tragic situations with comedic resolutions and introducing slapstick to wide appeal.
Egeon is sentenced to death by the Duke for being from Syracuse and attempting to sell merchandise in Ephesus. He tells him a touching story about his twin sons that were separated at birth, and how he was searching for his other son. Unbeknownst to him, Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant Dromio land in Ephesus on a search for their long lost twin brothers as well.
Things get extremely tricky when a series of errors lead to a zany case of mistaken identity, in Shakespeare’s profound farce.
