'A COMEDY OF ERRORS' OPENS AUG. 9 AT EOU

FARCICAL FUN, SHAKESPEARE STYLE: Emily Butler, left, as Luciana, and Emily Nash-Gray, as Adriana, express their feelings for Antipholusof Syracuse, played by Travis Gray in Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors." (KENN WHEELER photo/EOU Theatre Department).

LA GRANDE - As the days of summer drag into August and the heat of the day seems to permeate all aspects of life, Eastern Oregon University's summer theatre program has come up with a recipe that is sure to provide two hours of refreshing fun.

First, take two of EOU's most respected theatre alums, mix in eight of Eastern's current crop of gifted thespians, and then sprinkle with five up-and-coming area high school talents. Mix gingerly and top with one middle-aged theatre professor and you have a revitalizing evening of side-splittingly funny theatre.

Thursday, Aug. 9, marks the opening of William Shakespeare's hilarious farce, "The Comedy of Errors."

The show continues through Aug. 11 and opens again Aug. 16-18. All performances start at 7:30 p.m. in Schwarz Theatre on the EOU campus.

The story of this fast and furious farce concerns two sets of twins – one set played by EOU alum Travis Gray and the other set played by EOU senior Jennifer Romriell – who were separated in their youth. As adults, one set, the Antipholus of Syracuse and his slave, Dromio, scour the world searching for their brothers. Their search leads them to Ephesus, where unbeknownst to them, their twins, the Antipholus and Dromio have been living for years.

As people start mistaking each twin for the other, the story becomes more and more entwined until the final scene when all are brothers are recognized and life is set to right. And of course everyone lives happily ever after.

"This show is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of every member of your family, said Kenn Wheeler, director. "Adults will love the crazy, mixed up story, while children will love the fast pace and wild antics of the characters."

Other members of the cast include EOU alum Emily Nash-Gray, who plays Adriana, the wife of the Antipholus of Ephesus, Emily Butler, who plays Adriana's sister, Luciana, and Genevieve Ehart who plays the good hearted Courtesan. High school students, Jeff Poe, Konner Kennedy and Nick Johnson play Angelo, the Officer and the Second Merchant respectively. Rounding out the cast is Kim Clark as Pinch, Leslie Croghan as the Duchess of Solinus, Jordan Wallis as Balthasar, Whitney Richards as Aemelia, Nick Romreill as the First Merchant, Ignacio Benavente as Luce and Michelle Thomas as a citizen of Ephesus. Kenn Wheeler plays the father of the twins, Aegeon.

Tickets are $8 for general admission, $6 for students and seniors and can be purchased at Sunflower Books in La Grande or by calling the EOU theatre box office at 962-3757.