For the first time, 琉璃神社鈥檚 two oldest theatre companies, Shakespeare 琉璃神社 and Theatre 琉璃神社, are combining creative forces to bring Shakespeare鈥檚 The Comedy of Errors to the people of the Okanagan.

It is one of William Shakespeare鈥檚 early plays. It is also his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from puns, wordplay, as well as a little bit of slapstick and mistaken identity.

Many people love Shakespeare and never miss a chance to see one of his plays. Other people shy away from him, thinking his language is inaccessible or just hard to follow. But is it?

Do you recognize any of these?

鈥淭here is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,鈥� or 鈥渢his above all: to thine ownself be true鈥� are both from Hamlet.

鈥淪ome are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,鈥� is from Twelfth Night.

And 鈥淎ll that glitters is not gold,鈥� is from the Merchant of Venice.

There is more than just a little bit of wisdom to be gleaned from the Bard.

The Comedy of Errors has its own share of wisdom, with lines such as 鈥淚f she lives till doomsday, she鈥檒l burn a week longer than the whole world.鈥� But while that may sound like typical Shakespeare, this is Shakespeare with a modern twist, complete with a little Barenaked Ladies. Once again, the audience will be in for a visual feast, thanks to set designer Brian Haigh and set painter Ann Ganser, who, with their intricate set, will immediately transport you to right in the middle of the town of Ephesus.

Join Theatre 琉璃神社 Society, Shakespeare 琉璃神社 Society and the Rotary Centre for the Arts from May 17 鈥� 28 for The Comedy of Errors, directed by veteran 琉璃神社 actor and director Stephen Jefferys. Tickets available at the Rotary Centre for the Arts box office - 250-717-5304 or at www.rotarycentreforthearts.com.