“We’ve All Done This Monologue to Someone!”
This week, the ensemble tackled the heart of The Comedy of Errors—the rapid-fire mix-ups and mounting frustration that drive the play’s humor. Two sets of twins—Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse and of Ephesus—cross paths unknowingly, creating chaos in a city that seems determined to misunderstand them. As they read, one participant laughed, “This guy has anger issues,” referring to Antipholus, who spends much of the play shouting in confusion. Another said, “It feels like bickering—but with two people with different power dynamics.”
When the group reached Adriana’s confrontation scene, the room erupted with laughter and recognition. “We’ve all done this monologue to someone!” one ensemble member declared. The speech—part jealousy, part heartbreak—became a mirror for everyone in the circle. We framed the conversation around the question: “What does the character want?” One participant said, “She wants him to come home and get his head straight.” Another added, “To claim her.” Someone else said, “She’s trippin’—she’s feeling jealous for no reason,” and the group laughed.
Between readings, participants experimented with accents, playing with the sounds of Shakespeare’s language. “They don’t speak all fancy—they just speak normal to you… I’ll be ghetto still!” one participant said, and the group erupted again. This is a recurring debate we have with members of the ensemble– just about every year we talk through this at some point. Even if we encourage folks to use their natural voice, the final decision is always up to them.
By week’s end, they weren’t just reading Shakespeare; they were living him—finding themselves in his characters’ chaos, humor, and longing.