Baltimore Shakespeare Factory Presents THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, Begin. Today

A compact, knockabout tale that takes "separated at birth" to absurdly amusing heights, The Comedy of Errors brings the 2014 Baltimore Shakespeare Factory season to raucous end with 16 performances beginning Nov. 7, 2014.

Written early in Shakespeare's career, the play tells the story of two sets of twins separated early in life. When one duo arrives in in Syracuse in search of the other, a hoped-for family reunion devolves into a series of misadventures that take place in one strange day. The Comedy of Errors is full of the dexterous double entendres and physical humor that has made it one of the most enduringly popular and retold tales in the Shakespeare canon.

Performed by 10 actors who together play 20 roles, Comedy is the Factory's annual "ensemble experiment" in which the actors direct and costume themselves - with just five rehearsals to prepare. The "experiment" is driven by the Factory's mission to stage Shakespeare's plays in ways that audiences might have experienced them in Shakespeare's time.

"Actors in London in the late 1500s would not have had a 'director' - at least not in the way we know it today," said Factory Artistic Director Tom Delise. "The historical record of Shakespeare's time suggests that actors usually had a matter of days to learn and produce a play, and rarely had more than a stage, a few costumes and their own bravado to work with. The resulting performance was a high wire act - for both the audience and the players."

Comedy will be staged at two venues in November and December, including three shows at Boordy Vineyards in Hydes, Md.

VENUE INFORMATION FOR All SHOWS

St. Mary's Community Center is located in Hampden at 3900 Roland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21211.

*All ticketing arrangements for Boordy Vineyards performances are to be made directly with Boordy. Call (410) 592-5015 for reservations, which are strongly recommended as limited seating is available. Boordy is located at 12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes, MD 21082.

For up-to-date information, the Factory can be contacted at 410-921-WILL(9455) or box.office@TheShakespeareFactory.com. Our website is shakespearefactory.org

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students/teachers/seniors, FREE for children Grade 5 & under.

Baltimore Shakespeare Factory's The Comedy of Errors 2014