Tabor Theater Adds Matinee for Area Schools

Comedy of Errors Fall 2016 PlayHILLSBORO, Kan. – Tabor College presents a special matinee performance of “The Comedy of Errors” by William Shakespeare for area elementary, middle school and high school students on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

Laurel Koerner director of theater at Tabor says the matinee will give Tabor theater students the chance to share this experience with others.

“We’re offering this because theater has the power to educate, to teach empathy, to heal, and to inspire,” Koerner said.

There’s a perception of Shakespearean theater as being very stuffy, very rigid. On the contrary, the audiences were rowdy, the actors were bold, and the jokes were plentiful. Who better to help charge our imaginations and transport us back to such a lively experience than a few hundred children?”

Adding a performance for local students offers another opportunity to support a worldwide movement to celebrate Shakespeare during the 2016 anniversary. Around the world theater groups are commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death by performing his works.

“Our cast and crew have enjoyed working on this show,” Molly Wiebe who plays one of the Dromio twins said. “We are always happy to see audiences enjoying our shows, but this is particularly special because we’re part of something happening in other countries and other cultures.”

There is plenty to laugh about in this tale of mistaken identities, and the actors have applied their own senses of humor to the creative process.

“It’s been a collaborative effort to discover our version of the Comedy of Errors, and we’re getting to see our own ideas come to life. It’s really exciting,” Reuven Isaac who plays one of the Antipholus brothers said.

The show is a hilarious story of two sets of twins accidentally and unknowingly separated at birth. Two of the twins visit the others’ hometown and are repeatedly confused for their identical brothers. The visit causes a series of mishaps and false accusations throughout.

“The Comedy of Errors” runs Oct. 19 through Oct 22 for audiences of six and up. All performances will be held in the Tabor Chapel. Tickets can be purchased through Tabor’s student life office or on tabor.edu/homecoming.