NWC to present Shakespeare play

“The Comedy of Errors” by William Shakespeare will be presented by Northwestern College theatre February 15, 16 and 20–23. The curtain will rise at 7:30 each evening in the Allen Theatre of the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center.

Northwestern theatre professor Jeff Barker is directing the classic comedy, which is rife with puns, wordplay and slapstick humor. “The Comedy of Errors” follows Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio, during their visit to Ephesus, where—unknown to them—each man’s twin brother lives.

Accidentally separated at birth during a storm at sea, the twins are unaware of each others’ existence. In the same city for the first time, each unsuspecting twin is mistaken for the other during a hilarious progression of events that involve misapplied beatings, seductions and arrests.

“The theme of twins—and likenesses—has been a delight for us to explore,” says Barker, who adds that he also loves the play’s reconciliation themes. “As the play begins, two cities are at war, a marriage is threatened and a family separated, and Antipholus is in despair. But the chaos provides a path to the healing of all these woes.”

The 21-member cast includes excellent vocalists, which prompted Barker to add songs to the production. Actors from the region are Hannah Barker, Orange City, and Abby Bierly, Hull.

Tickets for “The Comedy of Errors” are $7 for adults and $4 for students. The DeWitt Theatre box office opens Feb. 4 for Theatre Patrons; it is open Feb. 5–23 for the general public.

Tickets can be reserved by visiting the box office between 4 and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday or between noon and 5 p.m. on Saturday. The box office can also be reached by phone, 712-707-7098, or e-mail, boxoffice@nwciowa.edu.