ABSTRACT
Shakespeare incorporated classical and performative sources to cast Roman and commedia dell'arte characters in The Comedy of Errors. Shakespeare embedded comic improvisation into his farcical The Comedy of Errors. The Roman influence is apparent in Shakespeare's pairing of the twin servants. Dromio of Syracuse represents Maccus, the witty fool. Dromio of Ephesus is akin to Bucco who is hit more frequently. Like the jealous and mad Isabella in La Pazzia d'Isabella, Adriana runs through the streets and begs citizens to help her. Shakespeare crafted Adriana as a cavilliera who defended her man. At the Utah State Theatre, the author directed a fully staged commedia dell'arte production of The Comedy of Errors as the first play in the cycle of Shakespeare's plays with Italianate characters. Italian and American actors performed Commedia degli Errori, a bilingual scenario based on The Comedy of Errors, at La MaMa Umbria in 2006.
