Audiences looking for a mixture of William Shakespeare and the Wild West will soon have a medium as the Baker University theater department has announced the cast list for “A Comedy of Errors.”
Guest director Beate Pettigrew, who teaches theater at Johnson County Community College, said she chose to change the time period to the Wild West in order to relate more with the audience.
“I like to take plays out of the time period because it makes them more accessible to a contemporary audience,” she said.
Associate Professor of Theater Bruce Woodruff said “A Comedy of Errors” is based on the story of two sets of twins, both separated at birth. While one set of twins is servants to the other set, neither set realizes it has a twin, which creates comedic mix-up and confusion.
Pettigrew, who has been directing for more than 20 years, said she’s looking forward to helping the actors interpret Shakespeare.
“Shakespeare is like a foreign language if you’ve never read it, but the more you read it, the more familiar you become and the more you understand,” she said.
Freshman Denver Little, who was in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in high school, said he realizes how hard it is to interpret Shakespeare.
“With Shakespeare it’s really important that you understand the language,” Little said. “It’s the actor’s job to understand what the lines mean, which is probably the hardest part.”
Little said it’s easier for him to write it side-by-side, in plain English when he’s preparing and attempting to memorize his lines.
“The end result is really great because an audience really appreciates Shakespeare – if they can understand it,” he said. “I think it will be fascinating to see how it turns out.”
Sophomore Kyle Dyck said he’s looking forward to his role in “A Comedy of Errors.”
“Unlike other plays, I have to figure out what Shakespeare is saying before I can actually act it out,” he said.
Pettigrew said rehearsal for “A Comedy of Errors” will begin in mid-October, but she will be practicing with the lead actors on weekends until then.
“Doing Shakespeare in three weeks is kind of insane, but that’s how the calendar is set up,” Pettigrew said.
“A Comedy of Errors” will open at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 in Rice Auditorium.
Cast ListAshley Pike Solinus
Brian Berrens Antipholus of Syracuse
Denver Little Dromio of Syracuse
Justin Whittaker1st Merchant, Balthazar
Kyle DyckAntipholus of Ephesus
Bob LinebargerDromio of Ephesus
Joy Dayton Adriana
Hali JewellLuciana
Lara Turner Luce
Nate Swihart Angelo
Jason Shipley2nd Merchant
Tawny Decker Dr. Pinch
Amy Olbert Aemilia
Rose Garrison Courtesan
Ethan Solko Jailer and Officer
Megan Nelson Servant