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The Boys from Syracuse

January 31, 2024

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

The Boys from Syracuse is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, based on William Shakespeare's play The Comedy of Errors, as adapted by librettist George Abbott. The score includes swing and other contemporary rhythms of the 1930s. The show was the first musical based on a Shakespeare play.[1] The Comedy of Errors was itself loosely based on a Roman play, The Menaechmi, or the Twin Brothers, by Plautus.

The Boys from Syracuse
Original 1938 Poster
MusicRichard Rodgers
LyricsLorenz Hart
BookGeorge Abbott
BasisWilliam Shakespeare's play
The Comedy of Errors
Productions1938 Broadway
1940 Film
1963 Off-Broadway revival
1963 West End
1991 West End revival
2002 Broadway revival

The show premiered on Broadway in 1938 and Off-Broadway in 1963, with later productions including a West End run in 1963 and in a Broadway revival in 2002. A film adaptation was 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 edit

Abbott directed and George Balanchine choreographed the original production, which opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theater on November 23, 1938, after tryouts in New Haven, Connecticut and Boston. The show closed on June 10, 1939 after 235 performances. It starred Eddie 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 by Jo Mielziner and costumes were by Irene Sharaff.

The show was revived Off-Broadway, opening at Theatre Four on April 15, 1963 and running for 500 performances. Directed by Christopher Hewett, the cast featured Stuart 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), and Karen Morrow (Luce).[2]

A West End production opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane[3] on November 7, 1963 based on the off-Broadway production, starring Denis 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) and Bob Monkhouse (Antipholus of Syracuse).[4]

A film version was released on August 9, 1940 by Universal Pictures. Directed by A. Edward Sutherland, the film starred Allan Jones in the dual roles of the two Antipholuses, Joe Penner in the dual roles of the Dromios, Martha Raye and Irene Hervey.

A Stratford Festival of Canada production opened on May 19, 1986 and ran for 69 performances. It featured Colm Feore (Antipholus of Ephesus), Geraint Wyn Davies (Antiophlus of Syracuse), Susan Wright (Luce), Goldie Semple (the Courtesan), and Eric McCormack.[5][6] The production was filmed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and was broadcast in late 1986.[7]

A revival directed by Judi Dench was mounted at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London in July through August 1991, and toured the UK in September and October 1991. Louise Gold played Adriana.[8]

The Roundabout Theatre revival opened on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre on August 18, 2002 and ran for 73 performances and 29 previews. The revival featured a new book by Nicky Silver based on the original book. It was directed by Scott Ellis with choreography by Rob Ashford, and the cast featured Jonathan Dokuchitz (Antipholus of Syracuse), Tom Hewitt (Antipholus of Ephesus), Lee Wilkof (Dromio of Syracuse), Chip Zien (Dromio of Ephesus), Erin Dilly (Luciana) and Lauren Mitchell (Adriana).[9]

The Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington, DC, presented a semi-staged concert version at its Sidney Harman Hall, November 4–6, 2011, with direction by Alan Paul, musical direction by George Fulginiti-Shakar, and artistic direction by Michael Kahn, with the concert adaptation by David Ives. The production starred Anastasia 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.[10]

The show's Asian premiere was in Singapore, performed by LASALLE 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.[11]

Plot edit

Identical twins Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse were 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 edit

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 edit

References edit

  1. ^ Information from the LorenzHart.org website
  2. ^ "'The Boys from Syracuse', 1963 production" Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed April 3, 2022
  3. ^ Mention of show at Drury Lane arthurlloyd.co.uk
  4. ^ Information about the 1963 London production lorenzhart.org
  5. ^ J. Alan B. Somerset. 1991. The Stratford Festival Story, 1st edition. Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-27804-4
  6. ^ "The Boys from Syracuse (1986) production credits". Stratford Festival Archives. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  7. ^ British Universities Film & Video Council - Boys from Syracuse
  8. ^ "'The Boys from Syracuse' listing at Louise Gold site" qsulis.demon.co.uk, accessed June 23, 2011
  9. ^ Brantley, Ben."Theater Review:No Sobs, No Sorrows, No Sighs" New York Times, August 19, 2002
  10. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Starry Boys From Syracuse Concert in DC Has Leslie Kritzer, Alex Gemignani, Ben Davis and a Big Band" Playbill.com, November 4, 2011
  11. ^ . Archived from the original on 2012-07-02.

External links edit

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to The Boys from Syracuse.
  • Information from LorenzHart.org website
  • Curtain Up review of 2002 revival
  • Listing at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
  • ​The Boys from Syracuse​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  • Plot summary & casting breakdown
  • The Boys from Syracuse at IMDb  

January 31, 2024
boys, from, syracuse, 1940, film, adaptation, film, musical, with, music, richard, rodgers, lyrics, lorenz, hart, based, william, shakespeare, play, comedy, errors, adapted, librettist, george, abbott, score, includes, swing, other, contemporary, rhythms, 1930. For the 1940 film adaptation see The Boys from Syracuse film The Boys from Syracuse is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart based on William Shakespeare s play The Comedy of Errors as adapted by librettist George Abbott The score includes swing and other contemporary rhythms of the 1930s The show was the first musical based on a Shakespeare play 1 The Comedy of Errors was itself loosely based on a Roman play The Menaechmi or the Twin Brothers by Plautus The Boys from SyracuseOriginal 1938 PosterMusicRichard RodgersLyricsLorenz HartBookGeorge AbbottBasisWilliam Shakespeare s play The Comedy of ErrorsProductions1938 Broadway 1940 Film 1963 Off Broadway revival 1963 West End 1991 West End revival 2002 Broadway revivalThe show premiered on Broadway in 1938 and Off Broadway in 1963 with later productions including a West End run in 1963 and in a Broadway revival in 2002 A film adaptation was 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 Contents 1 Production history 2 Plot 3 Musical numbers 4 Roles and original cast 5 References 6 External linksProduction history editAbbott directed and George Balanchine choreographed the original production which opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theater on November 23 1938 after tryouts in New Haven Connecticut and Boston The show closed on June 10 1939 after 235 performances It starred Eddie 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 by Jo Mielziner and costumes were by Irene Sharaff The show was revived Off Broadway opening at Theatre Four on April 15 1963 and running for 500 performances Directed by Christopher Hewett the cast featured Stuart 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 and Karen Morrow Luce 2 A West End production opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane 3 on November 7 1963 based on the off Broadway production starring Denis 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 and Bob Monkhouse Antipholus of Syracuse 4 A film version was released on August 9 1940 by Universal Pictures Directed by A Edward Sutherland the film starred Allan Jones in the dual roles of the two Antipholuses Joe Penner in the dual roles of the Dromios Martha Raye and Irene Hervey A Stratford Festival of Canada production opened on May 19 1986 and ran for 69 performances It featured Colm Feore Antipholus of Ephesus Geraint Wyn Davies Antiophlus of Syracuse Susan Wright Luce Goldie Semple the Courtesan and Eric McCormack 5 6 The production was filmed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and was broadcast in late 1986 7 A revival directed by Judi Dench was mounted at the Regent s Park Open Air Theatre in London in July through August 1991 and toured the UK in September and October 1991 Louise Gold played Adriana 8 The Roundabout Theatre revival opened on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre on August 18 2002 and ran for 73 performances and 29 previews The revival featured a new book by Nicky Silver based on the original book It was directed by Scott Ellis with choreography by Rob Ashford and the cast featured Jonathan Dokuchitz Antipholus of Syracuse Tom Hewitt Antipholus of Ephesus Lee Wilkof Dromio of Syracuse Chip Zien Dromio of Ephesus Erin Dilly Luciana and Lauren Mitchell Adriana 9 The Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington DC presented a semi staged concert version at its Sidney Harman Hall November 4 6 2011 with direction by Alan Paul musical direction by George Fulginiti Shakar and artistic direction by Michael Kahn with the concert adaptation by David Ives The production starred Anastasia 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 10 The show s Asian premiere was in Singapore performed by LASALLE 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 11 Plot editIdentical twins Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse were 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 editAct 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 amp 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 from Present 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 CompanyRoles and original cast editThe 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 FairReferences edit Information from the LorenzHart org website The Boys from Syracuse 1963 production Internet Off Broadway Database accessed April 3 2022 Mention of show at Drury Lane arthurlloyd co uk Information about the 1963 London production lorenzhart org J Alan B Somerset 1991 The Stratford Festival Story 1st edition Greenwood Press ISBN 978 0 313 27804 4 The Boys from Syracuse 1986 production credits Stratford Festival Archives Retrieved 2019 06 20 British Universities Film amp Video Council Boys from Syracuse The Boys from Syracuse listing at Louise Gold site qsulis demon co uk accessed June 23 2011 Brantley Ben Theater Review No Sobs No Sorrows No Sighs New York Times August 19 2002 Jones Kenneth Starry Boys From Syracuse Concert in DC Has Leslie Kritzer Alex Gemignani Ben Davis and a Big Band Playbill com November 4 2011 LASALLE College of the Arts Archived from the original on 2012 07 02 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to The Boys from Syracuse Information from LorenzHart org website Curtain Up review of 2002 revival Listing at guidetomusicaltheatre com The Boys from Syracuse at the Internet Broadway Database Plot summary amp casting breakdown The Boys from Syracuse at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Boys from Syracuse amp oldid 1194098169, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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