Shakespeare’s Rom-Coms

While some may be more familiar with Shakespeare’s dramas such as Hamlet and Macbeth, or histories such as Henry V, Shakespeare was also a writer of delightful romantic comedies such as Much Ado About Nothing. These comedies often featured disguises, mistaken identities, romantic hijinks, and happy endings.

The Comedy of Errors

In this farcical comedy set in the Greek city of Ephesus, the story follows two sets of identical twins who were separated at birth. Through a series of mishaps and moments of mistaken identity, shenanigans ensue, arrests and accusations are made, and chaos reigns.

Twelfth Night

In this play, twins Sebastian and Viola are separated in a shipwreck. When Viola comes ashore, she disguises herself as a young man named Cesario, and in turn falls in love with Duke Orsino who is in love with Olivia who eventually falls in love with Cesario. As the romance and mistaken identities unfold, the lives and loves of the characters become comedically entangled.

From left: Catherine Lynn Davis as Viola, Peter Silbert (playing guitar) as Feste, and Daniel Mooney as Orsino in the 1987 Milwaukee Rep production of Twelfth Night. Photo credit: Mark Avery, UW-M Milwaukee Rep Photographic History Archives.

Cast members of Milwaukee Rep’s 2011 production of Bomb-itty of Errors, a hip-hop adaptation of Comedy of Errors. Photo credit: Michael Brosilow, Milwaukee Rep.

Love’s Labour’s Lost

In this early Shakespearean comedy, the King of Navarre and his companions swear off of the company of women for three years so they can focus on learning and fasting. Of course, they encounter some lovely women and forswear their oaths.

Cast of the 1994 Milwaukee Rep production of Love’s Labour’s Lost. Photo credit: Mark Avery, UW-M Milwaukee Rep Photographic History Archives.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

One of Shakespeare’s most produced plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream follows four lovers as they seek partnership in the face of arranged marriages and societal expectations. As the quartet heads into the woods, they run afoul of a conflict between the king and queen of the fairies. In addition to the lovers, a group of tradespeople take to the woods to rehearse a play. The intertwined stories lead to comedy and romance full of magic and mirth.

The Taming of the Shrew

Two sisters, the fiery and independent Katherine, and the younger sweet and romantic Bianca, struggle with suitors in this comedy. Katherine has no interest in marriage, but the arrogant and obnoxious Petruchio tries to win her hand; Bianca, meanwhile, tries to circumvent her father’s desire to marry off her older sister first. Multiple suitors vie for Bianca’s hand as Petruchio tries to make Kate into his future perfect wife. In what is considered one of Shakespeare’s weakest and perhaps first plays, the themes of disguise, misplaced love, the importance of friendship, and the foolishness of those in love are predominant. A highlight of the play is the clown Launce and his scene-stealing dog, Crab, who are beloved comedic characters in the Shakespearean canon.

Nick Barbato, Rickie McDowell and Queenie in the Cleveland Playhouse 2016 production of Two Gentlemen of Verona. Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni, Cleveland Playhouse.

Daniel Mooney as Hortensio and Maggie Thatcher as Bianca in Milwaukee Rep’s 1979 Production of Taming of the Shrew. Photo credit: Mark Avery, UW-M Milwaukee Rep Photographic History Archives.

As You Like It

Like many of Shakespeare’s comedies, this story centers around disguise and romantic connections between unlikely partners. An exiled king resides in the Forest of Arden with his court, his daughter runs away from his usurper brother, and a young man also escapes the formal court after he’s threatened. Characters meet in the forest and fall in love, even though who they are is not who they appear to be.

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Sir John Falstaff, the comedic relief from Henry IV Parts I and II, seeks his fortune in Windsor by courting two wealthy widows. As can be expected when Falstaff is involved, hijinks ensue, and the ladies trick Falstaff after discovering his scheme. A subplot follows two young lovers who want to evade the other suitors who are pursuing the young Anne.

The cast of Merry Wives of Windsor at Folger Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Cameron Whitman Photography.

Tropes in Shakespearean Comedies

Tropes are cliches or overused devices, characters, plot events, etc. Shakespeare’s comedies, and romantic comedies in general, have many of them. Some of Shakespeare’s most common comedic tropes include:

Read a fun article about the connection between Much Ado and modern romantic comedies here: https://www.avclub.com/william-shakespeare-invented-every-romantic-comedy-trop-1844474648

Mistaken identity Disguise (often as people of other genders) Happy endings complete with weddings Fantastical or magical elements Lovers overcoming societal or parental expectations Pastoral settings A “fool” or bumbling character Witty banter