The Boys From Syracuse

BroadwayBud · The Boys From Syracuse

So it was just announced today at school that our spring musical will be "The Boys From Syracuse". For the most part, I understand that this show isn't very well known, and it certainly isn't done very much around the area. Has anyone ever seen or been involved with a production of it? Does anyone know where there might be a script online to read? Does anyone have a video recording of this show? (I know a movie was made in 1940, but it's not on Amazon.) I'm not really looking for a synopsis, but anything you could tell me about the characters or musical numbers would be great! I'm really looking for anything anyone has to share about this show because I'm determined to learn more about it!

Marcellus

Read Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. That's the source.

Salome

its very well known one of the biggest hits for Rodgers and Hart.

Marcellus

Here's the link to the R & H site:
http://www.rnh.com/theatricals/show.php?show_id=18

JeffF

Get the CD. The show has a strong script, but it's the wonderful score that makes it work and since you seem really unfamiliar with it, you should hear the songs before you try out.

"This can't be Love", "What Can you do with a Man?", "Sing for Your Supper" and the great "Falling in Love with Love". Wonderful Rodgers and Hart stuff.

BroadwayBud

Thanks everyone! I ordered the 1997 Studio Cast Recording from Amazon last night. Hopefully it will arrive quickly. Not having access to a script, I really have no idea what the characters are like, so any details or specifics you have about any of the characters would be awesome! I understand that listening to the music will help, but I'm particularly interested in the part of Dromio of Syracuse. From what I can gather, that role is most appealing to me.

JelliclePat

Okay, Dromio of Syracuse is the twin brother of Dromio of Ephesus. The Dromios are the servants of the twin brothers named Antipholus. He's a smart-aleck, answering his master back very flippantly, as I recall. He also gets very confused when he's mistaken for the servant of Antipholus of Ephesus, whom he mistakes for his own master. To quote 'The Goon Show': all rather confusing, really.

Anyway, back in the 80's, PBS did a series of shows called 'Musical Comedy Tonight'; in one of them, Kaye Ballard (and two other ladies whose names I unfortunately don't recall) performed 'Sing for Your Supper'. According to hostess Sylvia Fine (wife of Danny Kaye), the song was originally written to be sung 'in the style of the Boswell Sisters', who were the precursors of the Andrews Sisters (of 'Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy' fame).

BTW, in 1977, the Royal Shakespeare Company did a production of 'Comedy of Errors'. It was updated to 1920's Greece, and had songs inspired by Shakespeare's lines. It featured Roger Rees (Nicholas Nickelby) as Antipholus of Ephesus, Judi Dench (first choice as the original Grizabella in CATS), and Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon Dursley in the 'Harry Potter' movies). The production staff included Cameron Mackintosh, John Napier, and Gillian Lynn; four years later, they teamed with Andrew Lloyd Webber to create CATS. It ihas been available on video, though it may be difficult to track down.

Well, that's probably a lot more than you wanted to know, but I hope it helps. Let us know how auditions go!

BroadwayBud

That was exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!

Auditions won't be until the end of November (the directors announced the show unusually early this year!), but I will be sure to post how they go!

JelliclePat

Bud, I looked up 'The Boys from Syracuse' on IMDB last night after I wrote to you. It's listed, but not available on video or DVD. I remember seeing it on television once a long time ago. The two Antipholuses were played by Alan Jones (a young leading man who appeared in several Marx Brothers movies) and the two Dromios by Joe Penner, a comedian whose tag line was 'Wanna buy a duck?'

I also checked the 1977 'Comedy of Errors'. Surprise, surprise!! It's available on VHS through Amazon.com! I highly recommend it. They keep all Shakespeare's language in spite of the up-dating, which makes it all the funnier. I especially like Pinch's song 'Satan, come forth!!'. BTW, if you get it, don't be thrown by unusual pronunciations. Syracuse in Shakespeare comes out 'Sye-ruh-cue-zuh' in order to scan properly.

I'm glad I was able to help.

BroadwayBud

Since I last posted, I have both recieved the recording and have listened to it over and over again. One of my favorite songs so far has got to be "What Can You Do With A Man" sung by Luce and Dromio of Ephesus. My likeness for this song has since peaked my curiosity about Dromio of Ephesus. What is his character like (personality, etc.)?

Actually, I'm curious about what the Antipholus's are like too. I'm leaning towards auditioning with a first choice of one of the Dromios, but figured I should know about the other three larger male roles.

And if I'm not asking enough already, what kind of a role is the singing policeman? I understand that he sings in "I Had Twins" and "Come With Me", but does he have much stage time or dialogue?

JelliclePat

It's been so long since I saw the 'Boys from Syracuse' film (c.30 years) that I don't remember too much about it. In Shakespeare, there is a Jailer (I think he's called Old Adam), who may be the policeman to whom you refer. He's an employee of the Duke of Syracuse; he makes assorted brief appearances, and has to try to arrest Antipholus of Syracuse for not paying the goldsmith.

Since Aegeon is the father of the Antipholuses, it would make more sense for *him* to sing 'I Had Twins'; I don't know about 'Come With Me'. Aegeon is an old (by Elizabethan standards) man who has come to Syracuse to find his son Antipholus of Ephesus, not knowing that hostilities had been declared between the two countries. When he's caught, he's condemned to death unless he can pay a ransom. With all the comings and goings and mistaken identities, it's like one of those comedies with people running in and out of doors, just barely missing each other.

The Dromios are your typical smart-aleck servants, both of them, cracking wise and talking back to their respective masters - and each other's masters, thinking that they are their own masters. The ultimate character is rather up to the performer and the director.

Antipholus of Ephesus is rather earnest, and perhaps a bit superstitious. Antipholus of Syracuse is rather laid-back for the most part, until things suddenly get strange; he's also a womanizer, since he visits a courtesan at one pointl. (This may be left out of 'Boys of Syracuse', of course.)

BTW, you might like a little of the back-story:
About 20 years before, Aegeon, a merchant, had married Aemelia. A year later, she gave birth to twin boys - the Antipholuses; Aegeon then bought the twin infant Dromios to be companion-servants to his sons as they all grew up together. On their way home from one voyage, their ship was caught in a storm, and was shipwrecked. Aegeon tied Aemelia, one Antipholus, and one Dromio to one spar, then himself and the other pair of boys to another. He and the boys with him were picked up by one ship, Aemelia and the others by a different ship going in another direction. But that second ship was also shipwrecked, and Aemelia and the boys with her were separated. Aegeon returned to Ephesus, heart-broken, but never gave up searching, and his Antipholus takes up the search, which lands him in Syracuse at the beginning of the show. Aemelia, believing her entire family is drowned, enters a convent, and eventually becomes its superior, leading to a surprising resolution at the end of the play.

Again, I recommend the Royal Shakespeare Company's video of 'Comedy of Errors'. It's a live recording, and some of it is filmed from the wings, so you get people really close to the camera as they exit. Trust me, it's hilarious. It'll also answer many of your questions.

Keep in touch!!

BroadwayBud

I'm updating for those that requested one!

Our auditions for this show were today. I just got home actually. The cast list will be posted on Friday. Meanwhile, I've got another weekend of Into the Woods performances as Rapunzel's Prince. Wish me luck (for both)!

BroadwayBud	The Boys From Syracuse So it was just announced today at school that our spring musical will be "The Boys From Syracuse". For the most part, I understand that this show isn't very well known, and it certainly isn't done very much around the area. Has anyone ever seen or been involved with a production of it? Does anyone know where there might be a script online to read? Does anyone have a video recording of this show? (I know a movie was made in 1940, but it's not on Amazon.) I'm not really looking for a synopsis, but anything you could tell me about the characters or musical numbers would be great! I'm really looking for anything anyone has to share about this show because I'm determined to learn more about it!
Marcellus	Read Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. That's the source.
Salome	its very well known one of the biggest hits for Rodgers and Hart.
Marcellus	Here's the link to the R & H site: http://www.rnh.com/theatricals/show.php?show_id=18
JeffF	Get the CD. The show has a strong script, but it's the wonderful score that makes it work and since you seem really unfamiliar with it, you should hear the songs before you try out. "This can't be Love", "What Can you do with a Man?", "Sing for Your Supper" and the great "Falling in Love with Love". Wonderful Rodgers and Hart stuff.
BroadwayBud	Thanks everyone! I ordered the 1997 Studio Cast Recording from Amazon last night. Hopefully it will arrive quickly. Not having access to a script, I really have no idea what the characters are like, so any details or specifics you have about any of the characters would be awesome! I understand that listening to the music will help, but I'm particularly interested in the part of Dromio of Syracuse. From what I can gather, that role is most appealing to me.
JelliclePat	Okay, Dromio of Syracuse is the twin brother of Dromio of Ephesus. The Dromios are the servants of the twin brothers named Antipholus. He's a smart-aleck, answering his master back very flippantly, as I recall. He also gets very confused when he's mistaken for the servant of Antipholus of Ephesus, whom he mistakes for his own master. To quote 'The Goon Show': all rather confusing, really. Anyway, back in the 80's, PBS did a series of shows called 'Musical Comedy Tonight'; in one of them, Kaye Ballard (and two other ladies whose names I unfortunately don't recall) performed 'Sing for Your Supper'. According to hostess Sylvia Fine (wife of Danny Kaye), the song was originally written to be sung 'in the style of the Boswell Sisters', who were the precursors of the Andrews Sisters (of 'Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy' fame). BTW, in 1977, the Royal Shakespeare Company did a production of 'Comedy of Errors'. It was updated to 1920's Greece, and had songs inspired by Shakespeare's lines. It featured Roger Rees (Nicholas Nickelby) as Antipholus of Ephesus, Judi Dench (first choice as the original Grizabella in CATS), and Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon Dursley in the 'Harry Potter' movies). The production staff included Cameron Mackintosh, John Napier, and Gillian Lynn; four years later, they teamed with Andrew Lloyd Webber to create CATS. It ihas been available on video, though it may be difficult to track down. Well, that's probably a lot more than you wanted to know, but I hope it helps. Let us know how auditions go!
BroadwayBud	That was exactly what I was looking for! Thank you! Auditions won't be until the end of November (the directors announced the show unusually early this year!), but I will be sure to post how they go!
JelliclePat	Bud, I looked up 'The Boys from Syracuse' on IMDB last night after I wrote to you. It's listed, but not available on video or DVD. I remember seeing it on television once a long time ago. The two Antipholuses were played by Alan Jones (a young leading man who appeared in several Marx Brothers movies) and the two Dromios by Joe Penner, a comedian whose tag line was 'Wanna buy a duck?' I also checked the 1977 'Comedy of Errors'. Surprise, surprise!! It's available on VHS through Amazon.com! I highly recommend it. They keep all Shakespeare's language in spite of the up-dating, which makes it all the funnier. I especially like Pinch's song 'Satan, come forth!!'. BTW, if you get it, don't be thrown by unusual pronunciations. Syracuse in Shakespeare comes out 'Sye-ruh-cue-zuh' in order to scan properly. I'm glad I was able to help.
BroadwayBud	Since I last posted, I have both recieved the recording and have listened to it over and over again. One of my favorite songs so far has got to be "What Can You Do With A Man" sung by Luce and Dromio of Ephesus. My likeness for this song has since peaked my curiosity about Dromio of Ephesus. What is his character like (personality, etc.)? Actually, I'm curious about what the Antipholus's are like too. I'm leaning towards auditioning with a first choice of one of the Dromios, but figured I should know about the other three larger male roles. And if I'm not asking enough already, what kind of a role is the singing policeman? I understand that he sings in "I Had Twins" and "Come With Me", but does he have much stage time or dialogue?
JelliclePat	It's been so long since I saw the 'Boys from Syracuse' film (c.30 years) that I don't remember too much about it. In Shakespeare, there is a Jailer (I think he's called Old Adam), who may be the policeman to whom you refer. He's an employee of the Duke of Syracuse; he makes assorted brief appearances, and has to try to arrest Antipholus of Syracuse for not paying the goldsmith. Since Aegeon is the father of the Antipholuses, it would make more sense for him to sing 'I Had Twins'; I don't know about 'Come With Me'. Aegeon is an old (by Elizabethan standards) man who has come to Syracuse to find his son Antipholus of Ephesus, not knowing that hostilities had been declared between the two countries. When he's caught, he's condemned to death unless he can pay a ransom. With all the comings and goings and mistaken identities, it's like one of those comedies with people running in and out of doors, just barely missing each other. The Dromios are your typical smart-aleck servants, both of them, cracking wise and talking back to their respective masters - and each other's masters, thinking that they are their own masters. The ultimate character is rather up to the performer and the director. Antipholus of Ephesus is rather earnest, and perhaps a bit superstitious. Antipholus of Syracuse is rather laid-back for the most part, until things suddenly get strange; he's also a womanizer, since he visits a courtesan at one pointl. (This may be left out of 'Boys of Syracuse', of course.) BTW, you might like a little of the back-story: About 20 years before, Aegeon, a merchant, had married Aemelia. A year later, she gave birth to twin boys - the Antipholuses; Aegeon then bought the twin infant Dromios to be companion-servants to his sons as they all grew up together. On their way home from one voyage, their ship was caught in a storm, and was shipwrecked. Aegeon tied Aemelia, one Antipholus, and one Dromio to one spar, then himself and the other pair of boys to another. He and the boys with him were picked up by one ship, Aemelia and the others by a different ship going in another direction. But that second ship was also shipwrecked, and Aemelia and the boys with her were separated. Aegeon returned to Ephesus, heart-broken, but never gave up searching, and his Antipholus takes up the search, which lands him in Syracuse at the beginning of the show. Aemelia, believing her entire family is drowned, enters a convent, and eventually becomes its superior, leading to a surprising resolution at the end of the play. Again, I recommend the Royal Shakespeare Company's video of 'Comedy of Errors'. It's a live recording, and some of it is filmed from the wings, so you get people really close to the camera as they exit. Trust me, it's hilarious. It'll also answer many of your questions. Keep in touch!!
BroadwayBud	I'm updating for those that requested one! Our auditions for this show were today. I just got home actually. The cast list will be posted on Friday. Meanwhile, I've got another weekend of Into the Woods performances as Rapunzel's Prince. Wish me luck (for both)!

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The Boys From Syracuse