Palatine High School’s fall play promises laughter and chaos in the form of mistaken identities. Students will perform Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” starting Oct. 9 at the PHS auditorium, with performances running through Oct. 11.
“The Comedy of Errors” is one of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies. It follows two sets of identical twins who were separated at birth and unknowingly end up in the same city. Friends, family and strangers constantly confuse one twin for another, leading to misunderstandings and plenty of laughs before everything is sorted out.
Directed by English teacher Doug Gross, the show brings a fresh, energetic take on Shakespeare with updated language and humor.
“I actually rewrote the whole script and updated a majority of the language,” Gross said.
Rehearsals began on Aug. 25, and students have been learning both how to embody Shakespeare while working closely with the crew.
“The energy for the fall play is always amazing,” said lead actor Emma Scovic. “I always love coming to rehearsal, and the crew is always so good at their jobs.”
Although crew work is still in its early stages, the team is already focused on building the set: planning lighting cues and organizing props. The backstage crew’s job is to make sure the comedy flows smoothly, especially with all the quick entrances and exits the play demands.
Gross highlighted how many of this year’s crew members are new but eager to learn and contribute.
“There’s definitely a lot of crew this year who are brand new, but they learn quickly and have just jumped right in,” Gross said.
Even though The Comedy of Errors is more than 400 years old, its humor is still easy to follow. The story’s mix of wordplay, physical humor, and mistaken identity has kept it popular for centuries.
Students, families, and community members are invited to see the fall play and enjoy a night of comedy. As Gross put it, “Put down your phone and enjoy a live experience.”
Performances will be on Oct 9, 10 and 11 in the PHS auditorium. Tickets are $10 and will be available starting the week of Oct. 6 at the cashier’s office and online.
You can buy tickets for the show online here: https://palatine.booktix.com/dept/PHS/e/SSTCOE
