Antipholus of Syracuse

The less established twin brother,

whose servant is Dromeo of Syracuse.

He is in Espheus in search of his father.

Antipholus of Espheus

The more established twin who

lives in Espheus, married to Adriana

and Dromeo of Espheus is his servant.

Dromeo of Syracuse

Dromeo of Espheus

Adriana

Wife of Antipholus of Espheus.

She is very jealous.

Luciana

The unmarried sister of Adriana

who also lives in Espheus.

Once long ago there was a man happily married....

In Syracusa was I born, and wed

Unto a woman happy but for me,

And by me, had not our hap been bad.

With her I lived in joy.

A joyful mother of two sons,

And, which was strange, the one so like the other

That very hour, and in the selfsame inn,

A different woman bore

male twins, both alike.

The two sets of twins became servant and master, and lived together.

One day on a ship with his wife, two twin sons and the twin servants... A storm came...

For what obscured light the heavens did grant

Did but convey unto our fearful minds

A doubtful warrant of immediate death

My wife, more careful for the latter-born,

Had fastened him unto a small spare mast,

Such as seafaring men provide for storms.

To him one of the other twins was bound,

Whilst I had been like heedful of the other.

They tied themselves to the ship!

A storm came and the ship broke in half separated and him from the wife, one of master, and servant twin on the other side...

For what obscured light the heavens did grant

Did but convey unto our fearful minds

A doubtful warrant of immediate death

My wife, more careful for the latter-born,

Had fastened him unto a small spare mast,

Such as seafaring men provide for storms.

To him one of the other twins was bound,

Whilst I had been like heedful of the other.

Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst;

Many years later, one set of twins, is visiting the village of Espheus in search of his father he lost... Antipholus and his servant, Dromeo are going about their day...

"Go bear it to the hotel,

And stay there, Dromio, till I come to thee.

Within this hour it will be dinnertime. Get thee away" said Antipholus of Syracuse.

"And so I go indeed." said Dromeo of Syracuse.

However, Antipholus encounters the wrong servant moments later who was looking for his rightful master, looking for the other half of his family...

"What now? How chance thou art returned so soon?" says Antipholus of Syracuse.

"Returned so soon? Rather approach’d too late!

My mistress made it one upon my cheek." says Dromeo of Espheus.

When servant Dromeo has encountered his wrong master Antipholus, confusion begins to brew.

But the situation has become confused... Antipholus does not know he is talking to the wrong twin.

"The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not."

Antipholus becomes angered when the servant that is not his claims he has a wife and yells at him...

At home, Antipholus of Espheus' wife Adriana is wondering where her husband, complaining to her sister, Luciana.

"Neither my husband nor the servant has returned" said Adriana

"They’ll go or come. If so, be patient, sister." says Luciana.

Soon, Dromeo of Espheus returns to tell Adriana of his master not recognizing him.

"But say, I prithee, is he coming home?" asked Adriana.

"He has gone stark mad. He says he has, “no house, no wife, no mistress." replies Dromeo.

This upsets Adriana and she demands her husband home.