Before watching the play I perceived it to be of a high quality, with talented actors, as it was being performed at the Sydney Opera House, in the "Playhouse". Knowing it was a Shakespearean comedy, I was doubtful of whether the language would be understandable. However, having seen previous productions by the Bell Shakespeare Company, I was sure this would not be the case. The Company has a reputation of contemporising Shakespeare's plays, in order to appeal to a younger, Australian aud

The stage in the Playhouse is rectangular, set back from the audience. The layout of the stage suggests openness and accessibility. Nothing is hidden or out of the audience's sight. Furthermore, almost all the action taking place in the play is enacted onstage, so the audience experiences firsthand how such disastrous mistakes could be possible. There is a unity of time and place in the play, with all the action occurring within a day in the same town. All the action unfolds in front of the audience. The audience is aware of everything that happens in the play, in contrast to the characters.

The difference of class and status between the two sets of twins is also highlighted in the play. While both Antipholus wear suits and speak Elizabethan language, the two Dromios are made to wear clown-like costumes and colourful hair. Furthermore, both Dromios speak in an Australian accent, and occasionally use obscene language. Their gestures are also crude and of a sexual nature. Their body language (including touching themselves) also indicates a lower class. They constantly receive beatings from their masters, and use the term "ass" frequently to describe themselves. This seems ironic in the production, considering they were all born on the same day and raised by the same parents.

Before the play began, Ross Skiffington, an 'illusionist', entertained audiences with magical acts, while they were being seated. Once the audience lighting was darkened, the play began with the illusionist appearing, once again, on the stage. He performs another one of his magical acts when the Duke arrives onstage with his party. Thus, from the outset, the idea of illusion is established as a major paradigm of the play.

The ending of the play is suggested effectively using some other techniques as well. It is at this point that all characters appear onstage. This hints at a possible reunion and resolution to all the confusing elements. Through the rest of the play, there is a maximum of 3-4 characters onstage, whereas at the end, about 12 characters appear altogether. Thus, the gradual build-up of characters onstage nearing the end of the play leads the audience closer to a conclusion. At the end of the play, the characters stand coupled up with their partners in the narrative, providing the final resolution.

Yet, at the same time, the play is contemporised to some degree by the Bell Shakespeare Company, being true to its reputation. For example, the Duke enters wearing sunglasses in the first scene, while the masked woman is reading the Sydney Morning Herald, and drinking Coke later on. The two Dromios, in a later scene, jest with each other, and subsequently start rapping, with one of them acting like a DJ with headphones on, while the other dances to the rap. Such scenes enhance the comic nature of the play, while appealing to a younger audience.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Comedy Errors, Ross Skiffington, Abbey Furthermore, Antipholus Syracuse, Adriana Luciana, Furthermore Abbey, Adriana Courtesan, Furthermore Dromios, Coke Dromios, Moreover Adriana, antipholus syracuse, comedy errors, masked characters, play characters, antipholus dromio, throughout play, example antipholus, middle-eastern appearance, change scenes, bell shakespeare company, play antipholus, twin boys called,
Approximate Word count = 2699
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)