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Milwaukee Repertory Theater Presents March 18 to May 8, 2011 Stackner Cabaret Adapted from William Shakespeare’s COMEDY OF ERRORS by Jordan Allen-Dutton, Jason Catalano, Gregory J. Qaiyum and Erik Weiner This study guide is researched and designed by the Education Department at Milwaukee Repertory Theater and is intended to prepare you for your visit. It contains information that will deepen your understanding of, and appreciation for, the production. We’ve also included questions and activities for you to explore before and after our performance of BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS. INSIDE THIS GUIDE If you would like to schedule a classroom workshop, Synopsis 2 or if we can help in any other way, please contact Jenny Kostreva at 414-290-5370 or About the Authors 4 [email protected] The Original MC 5 Rebecca Witt at 414-290-5393 or [email protected] Who’s Who 6 Shakespeare Now 7 The History of Hip Hop 8 An Interview with Sammy Study Guide Created By 10 Reyes, Choreographer Rebecca Witt, Education Coordinator Visiting The Rep 12 Edited By Jenny Kostreva, Education Director Weekday Matinees NOTE: THE BOMB-ITTY April 13, 2011 OF ERRORS contains adult April 20, 2011 language and content. All matinees are at 10:30 am *Spoiler Alert: Crucial plot points are A.E. A.S. thinks that he is talking to D.S. and revealed* beats him because D.E. doesn’t have the money he just gave to D.S. Eventually, D.E. THE BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS starts off escapes and heads back to Adrianna. with the prologue—an introduction explaining to the audience what has We find Adrianna and Luciana at happened up until now. MC Egeon, a home discussing the roles of men and rapper, and Betty meet and get women in society. During this, D.E. married. Soon, Betty gets pregnant and comes in and tries to explain why S.E. they have four children, two sets of is not with him. Adrianna is quite twins. They name one set, the bigger upset that her husband is not home brothers, Antipholus, and the other set, and asks for her sister to comfort her the smaller brothers, Dromio. Despite as she fears that S.E. is with another MC Egeon being successful, the family woman. While this is happening, we continues to struggle to make ends find A.S. back at the hotel, finding out meet. MC Egeon realizes that they that it is paid. D.S. comes in and A.S. don’t have enough money to raise the yells at D.S. for joking around about boys, so he decides to sell marijuana. having a wife, but D.S. has no idea However, he gets caught and sent to Costume what A.S. is talking about. While jail. With no income, MC Egeon and Rendering fighting, Adrianna and Luciana enter Betty decide to put the children up for for and confront A.S. Unsure of what is Antipohlus adoption. MC Egeon is so upset with going on, A.S. and D.S. decide to play this decision he commits suicide. After along with Adrianna and go home with Betty finds out what happens, she also her and her sister. commits suicide. After the boys were put up While A.S. and D.S. are eating dinner with for adoption, they were separated— one Adrianna and Luciana, A.E. and MC Antipholus and one Dromio end up being Hendelberg, a Jewish jeweler, are outside of raised in Ephesus and the others are raised in the house talking about the jewelry that he is Syracuse. One night, each boy is visited by making for Adrianna. As MC Hendelberg tells their father’s ghost. MC Egeon tells them of A.E. that it will be done later that night, D.E. their hip hop history and a missing link. They enters and confronts A.S. about the fight they all decide to follow in his footsteps and had earlier that day. A.E. has no idea what become rappers as well. he’s talking about. As the three of them ap- And with this, we find Antipholus of Syracuse proach the gate to the house, D.S. stands at (A.S.) and Dromio of Syracuse (D.S.) in the gate and will not let any of them in. A.E. Ephesus searching for the missing link. A.S. tries to convince D.S. to let them him, but he sends D.S. to pay for a hotel. Soon after D.S. does not allow it. Soon after, MC Hendelberg leaves, Dromio of Ephesus (D.E.) enters, look- leaves saying that he will send the necklace ing for Antipholus of Ephesus (A.E.) to bring with a messenger later that night. him home to his wife, Adrianna, and sister-in- Inside the house, everyone is finishing up law, Luciana. However, D.E. confuses A.S. for supper. Adrianna is still mad and leaves. Page 2 With Adrianna gone, A.S. approaches Luciana with. As he is thinking about this, Desi, a and tells her that he loves her. Luciana will prostitute, comes in and see A.S. and the have none of this and leaves. D.S. enters and necklace for Adrianna. Confusing A.S. for A.E. tells A.S. that he also has a wife, Bertha. They she asks him if the necklace is for her. A.S. talk about D.S.’s experience with Bertha and says that he has never met her before and as D.S. leaves Bobby, a bike messenger, leaves after giving her the necklace. enters. Bobby, mistaking A.S. for A.E. gives A.E. enters with the cop only to have the cop A.S. the necklace for Adrianna. leave immediately. Luciana enters with Dr. Meanwhile, MC Hendelberg wants his money Pinch wanting to get some herbs to help from A.E. for the necklace. However, A.E. Adrianna. He tells her what he has, and she states that he never got the necklace quickly hides under his coat as Dr. and will give him money when he gets Pinch approaches A.E. She ambushes the necklace. MC Hendelberg calls the A.E. and pours medicine down his cops and A.E. is arrested. D.S. arrives throat, but it doesn’t do anything. and A.E. tells him to get money from A.E. is able to get out of his restraints Adrianna to get him out of jail. and leaves to find Adrianna. Back at A.E.’s home, Luciana tells We then see a chase scene with every- Adrianna that A.S. professed his love one which ends at a church. While for her. Adrianna is shocked to hear Adrianna and Luciana are there this. D.S. enters to get money to bail explaining what has happened to the out A.E. and Adrianna believes that Abbess, Desi enters and Adrianna her life is ruined. Luciana feels bad sees that she is wearing the necklace that her sister feels this way so she meant for her. A.S. and D.S. enter leaves to find Dr. Pinch to find and Adrianna and Luciana are con- Costume something to fix all the problems. Rendering for fused thinking that they are supposed to be inside the church. The Abbess We are back in the mart and A.S. is Dromio releases A.E. and D.E. and the twins wondering why everyone in Ephesus meet each other for the first time. They come knows him. D.S. enters with the money to bail to the realization as to why there has been so A.E., but A.S. has no idea what he is talking much confusion. The Abbess enters and she about. A.S. tells D.S. to get plane tickets out confesses that she is Betty, the mother of the of Ephesus, wanting to leave as soon as four boys and that she didn’t kill herself after possible. However, he wants to find Luciana all. All disorder is cleared up and the brothers again and tell her how he feels one more time decide to form the ultimate hip hop band. before leaving, hoping that she might come PRE-SHOW ACTIVITY: Find a copy of THE COMEDY OF ERRORS and read it with your class (or find a really good summary). What differences do you think there will be in THE BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS? Do you think there will be any Shakespearean language in the show? Jot down some predictions of what you might or might not see in the show and share them with your classmates. POST-SHOW ACTIVITY: Compare and contrast THE COMEDY OF ERRORS and THE BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS. What similarities and differences are there? Were you surprised by anything you did or didn’t see? Discuss your answers with your classmates. Page 3 Erik Weiner was born in San various shows including Boston Public, Francisco and graduated from Numbers and Johnny Zero. NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Jason Catalano was born in Italy Weiner has been in film and and came to the US as an television including Brown adolescent. His first show JERRY Sugar (20th Century Fox), Un- FINNEGAN’S SISTER made him scripted (HBO) and Boardwalk realize that the theater was the Empire (HBO) and received a place for him. He studied at NYU’s Screen Actors Guild Award for Tisch School of the Arts. After Outstanding Performance by an taking some time off from theater, Jordan Allen-Dutton and Ensemble in a Drama series for he came back co-creating THE Erik Weiner at the Emmy Boardwalk Empire.