Tab Article

ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Drama / Comedy / Farce

Book Review:
''The Comedy of Errors'' is pure, unadulterated farce, and it's an absolute blast. It's Shakespeare's shortest play, and it moves at a breakneck pace. Two sets of identical twins, separated at birth, end up in the same city without knowing it. Chaos, as they say, ensues. Wives mistake the wrong twin for their husband, merchants demand payment from the wrong person, and everyone gets beaten by the wrong servant. It's a brilliant machine of comic misunderstanding, and it's incredibly funny. There's no deep philosophical meaning here, just pure theatrical joy. It's the kind of play that makes you laugh out loud. If you're new to Shakespeare and find his tragedies a bit daunting, this is a perfect, fun place to start. This Cambridge edition is great, with notes that explain the humor and the stage history. Highly recommended for a good laugh.