Boys from Syracuse - Shortest Day of the Year?

[MariantheLibrarian]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 7:35pm

So, this being not a hugely popular show, I can find little to no information about it. What's the context for Shortest Day of the Year? My cast recording lists it as Antipholus of Ephesus and Adriana, although obviously only he sings it. Any help would be awesome.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 7:39pm

Have you tried reading 'A Comedy Of Errors' and seeing where it looks to be a likely fit? Perhaps even a synopsis would do. Sadly I can't help off the top of my head, because I always get my Antipholi confused.

[MariantheLibrarian]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 8:35pm

Yeah, actually I got interested in it because of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's recent production. Antipholus of Ephesus is Adriana's husband, but I didn't know if the song was supposed to be tongue in cheek or not, because the general interpretation is that he's not the best husband.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 10:55pm

If I remember correctly, he's kicked out of the house and he sings this to try to make amends. If it was tongue and cheek you would know... it's Larry Hart after all.

[MariantheLibrarian]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 11:07pm

Oh, awesome. So it's when Antipholus of Syracuse is already in the house, and so A of E is locked out? Or did they change it from Comedy of Errors and have Adriana throw him out?

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 11:37pm

You know what's really sad? I played Antipholus of Ephesus in a production of The Boys from Syracuse, and I can't remember the circumstances under which I sang it. Of course that was 29 years ago.

[jewelchk]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:33am

I'm a little fuzzy on the beginning of this scene, but Antipholus doesn't know he's locked out of the house yet. He's with the men (maybe they just visited the brothel?), and they (Dromio, the police chief, etc.) begin reminiscing about their wives, which I guess is funny because they were just with the courtesans.

The part I remember more clearly is he begins to talk about a lovely sentiment Adriana recently said to him, that the shortest day of the year has the longest night of the year, and sings the song of the romantic verses she's said to him. Then towards then end of the song, it cuts back to inside the house with Adriana and Antipholus from Syracuse, and she is singing it to him. Shortly after the song ends, he sees her sister, Luciana, for the first time when Adriana leaves the room and falls in love with her instead. Antipholus of Ephesus, meanwhile (but a few scenes later), now misses Adriana and is dreamily making his way back home with Dromio, eventually only to find out the door is locked because the sisters think Antipholus is already inside.

I played Luciana in this almost ten years ago! I actually adore this song, simple and cliche as it is. I have to watch the age old video I still have of it now to jog my memory, but I think that's the context. Still, I don't remember it being tongue and cheek at all. It just eventually gets played for the cheap laugh when Adriana begins to reprise it to the wrong Antipholus.

Updated On: 7/11/08 at 12:33 AM

[MariantheLibrarian]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 8:20am

Excellent! Thank you so much!