The Boys from Syracuse

For the 1940 film adaptation, seeThe Boys from Syracuse (film).

The Boys from Syracuse
Original 1938 Poster
Music	Richard Rodgers
Lyrics	Lorenz Hart
Book	George Abbott
Basis	William Shakespeare's play The Comedy of Errors
Productions	1938Broadway 1940Film 1963Off-Broadwayrevival 1963West End 1991 West End revival 2002 Broadway revival

The Boys from Syracuseis amusicalwith music byRichard Rodgersand lyrics byLorenz Hart,based onWilliam Shakespeare's playThe Comedy of Errors,as adapted by librettistGeorge Abbott.The score includesswingand other contemporary rhythms of the 1930s. The show was the first musical based on a Shakespeare play.The Comedy of Errorswas itself loosely based on a Roman play,The Menaechmi, or the Twin Brothers,byPlautus.

The show premiered onBroadwayin 1938 andOff-Broadwayin 1963, with later productions including aWest Endrun in 1963 and in a Broadway revival in 2002.A film adaptationwas released in 1940. Well-known songs from the score include "Falling in Love with Love","This Can't Be Love"and"Sing for Your Supper".

Production history

Abbott directed andGeorge Balanchinechoreographed the original production, which opened on Broadway at theAlvin Theateron November 23, 1938, after tryouts inNew Haven, ConnecticutandBoston.The show closed on June 10, 1939 after 235 performances. It starredEddie Albert(Antipholus of Syracuse),Ronald Graham(Antipholus of Ephesus), Teddy Hart (Dromio of Ephesus),Jimmy Savo(Dromio of Syracuse),Muriel Angelus(Adriana) and Marcy Westcott (Luciana). Scenic and lighting design were byJo Mielzinerand costumes were byIrene Sharaff.

The show was revivedOff-Broadway,opening at Theatre Four on April 15, 1963 and running for 500 performances. Directed byChristopher Hewett,the cast featuredStuart Damon(Antipholus of Syracuse),Clifford David(Antipholus of Ephesus), Danny Carroll (Dromio of Syracuse), Rudy Tronto (Dromio of Ephesus),Ellen Hanley(Adriana),Julienne Marie(Luciana), andKaren Morrow(Luce).

AWest Endproduction opened at theTheatre Royal, Drury Laneon November 7, 1963 based on the off-Broadway production, starringDenis Quilley(Antipholus of Ephesus),Maggie Fitzgibbon(Luce), Paula Hendrix (Luciana),Pat Turner(Courtesan), Sonny Farrar (Dromio of Ephesus), Adam Deane (Angelo), John Adams (Sergeant),Edward Atienza(Sorcerer),Ronnie Corbett(Dromio of Syracuse), Lynn Kennington (Adriana) andBob Monkhouse(Antipholus of Syracuse).

A film versionwas released on August 9, 1940 byUniversal Pictures.Directed by A. Edward Sutherland, the film starredAllan Jonesin the dual roles of the two Antipholuses,Joe Pennerin the dual roles of the Dromios,Martha RayeandIrene Hervey.

AStratford Festivalof Canada production opened on May 19, 1986 and ran for 69 performances. It featuredColm Feore(Antipholus of Ephesus),Geraint Wyn Davies(Antiophlus of Syracuse),Susan Wright(Luce),Goldie Semple(the Courtesan), andEric McCormack. The production was filmed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and was broadcast in late 1986.

A revival directed byJudi Denchwas mounted at theRegent's Park Open Air Theatrein London in July through August 1991, and toured the UK in September and October 1991.Louise Goldplayed Adriana.

TheRoundabout Theatrerevival opened on Broadway at theAmerican Airlines Theatreon August 18, 2002 and ran for 73 performances and 29 previews. The revival featured a new book byNicky Silverbased on the original book. It was directed byScott Elliswith choreography byRob Ashford,and the cast featuredJonathan Dokuchitz(Antipholus of Syracuse),Tom Hewitt(Antipholus of Ephesus),Lee Wilkof(Dromio of Syracuse),Chip Zien(Dromio of Ephesus),Erin Dilly(Luciana) andLauren Mitchell(Adriana).

TheShakespeare Theatre Companyof Washington, DC, presented a semi-staged concert version at its Sidney Harman Hall, November 4–6, 2011, with direction by Alan Paul, musical direction byGeorge Fulginiti-Shakar,and artistic direction byMichael Kahn,with the concert adaptation byDavid Ives.The production starredAnastasia Barzee,Helen Carey, Anderson Davis, Ben Davis, Natascia Diaz,Alexander Gemignani,Adam Heller, Benjamin Horen, John Horton, Nehal Joshi,Leslie Kritzer,Michael McGrath, Michael Nansel, Matt Pearson, Tim Rogan, Thomas Adrian Simpson, and Betsy Wolfe.

The show's Asian premiere was inSingapore,performed byLASALLE College of the Arts.The production run was at The Singapore Airlines Theatre in March 2012. The show was directed by Tony Knight, musical direction by Bronwyn Gibson, and choreography by Tiffany Wrightson. The cast included Linden Furnell, Taryn Erickson, Mina Kaye, James Simpson, Gimbey Dela Cruz, Elle-May Patterson, Safia Hanifah, Michelle Kraiwitchaicharoen and Oda Maria.

Plot

Identical twins Antipholus ofEphesusand Antipholus ofSyracusewere separated from each other in a shipwreck as young children. Their servants, both named Dromio, are also long-separated identical twins. When the pair from Syracuse come to Ephesus, a comedy of errors and mistaken identities ensues when the wives of the Ephesians, Adriana and her servant Luce, mistake the two strangers for their husbands. Adriana's sister Luciana and the Syracuse Antipholus fall in love. But all ends happily.

Musical numbers

Act I

• "I Had Twins" – A Sergeant, Aegon, Duke of Ephesus and The Crowd
• "Dear Old Syracuse" – Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse
• "What Can You Do with a Man?" – Dromio of Ephesus and Luce
• "Falling in Love with Love"– Adriana
• "The Shortest Day of the Year" – Adriana and Antipholus of Ephesus
• "This Can't Be Love"– Antipholus of Syracuse and Luciana
• "Ladies' Choice" (Ballet) Courtesan, Antipholus of Ephesus, Pygmalion & Galatea, Amazons, Assistant Courtesan and Adriana (not in 2002 revival)
• "Let Antipholus In" – Entire Company (not in 2002 revival)

Act II

• "You Took Advantage of Me"– The Courtesans (in 2002 revival, fromPresent Arms,1928)
• "Ladies of the Evening" – Singing Policeman, Another Policeman, Policemen and Courtesans (not in 2002 revival)
• "He and She" – Dromio of Syracuse and Luce
• "You Have Cast Your Shadow on the Sea" – Antipholus of Syracuse and Luciana
• "Come With Me" – A Sergeant and Syracuse Policemen
• "Big Brother" – Dromio of Ephesus (comes before "Come With Me" in 2002 revival, and sung by both Dromios)
• "Sing for Your Supper"– Adriana, Luce, Luciana,
• "Oh, Diogenes!" – Courtesan and Full Company

The 2002 revival ended with:

• "Hurrah! Hurroo (reprise) (Sing for Your Supper)" – Madam, Courtesans, Luce, Adriana, Luciana, and the Crowd
• "This Can't Be Love" (reprise) – The Company

Roles and original cast

• The Masks:Robert Sidney,Harry Peterson
• Singing Policeman: Bob Lawrence
• Another Policeman: James Wilkinson
• Antipholus of Ephesus: Ronald Graham
• Dromio of Ephesus: Teddy Hart
• Dancing Policeman: George Church
• Tailor: Clifford Dunstan
• Tailor's Apprentice:Burl Ives
• Antipholus of Syracuse:Eddie Albert
• Dromio of Syracuse:Jimmy Savo
• Merchant of Syracuse: Byron Shores
• Duke of Ephesus: Carroll Ashburn
• Aegeon: John O'Shaughnessy
• Luce: Wynn Murray
• Adriana:Muriel Angelus
• Luciana: Marcy Westcott
• Sorcerer: Owen Martin
• Courtesan: Betty Bruce
• Secretary to Courtesan: Heidi Vosseler
• Angelo: John Clarke
• Merchant of Ephesus: Clifford Dunstan
• Seeress: Florence Fair

External links

• Information from LorenzHart.org website
• Curtain Up review of 2002 revival
• Listing at guidetomusicaltheatre
• ​The Boys from Syracuse​at theInternet Broadway Database
• Plot summary & casting breakdown
• The Boys from SyracuseatIMDb