The Bomb-itty of Errors

Synopsis

Inspired by Shakespeare s Comedy of Errors, Bomb-itty inventively traces the chaotic family history of two sets of male twins who are put up for adoption by their struggling hip-hop parents. After the boy s father is arrested for small-time drug dealing, their mother falls apart and splits the boys up between two foster homes and disappears. The Bomb-itty of Errors follows the explosive confusion when the four boys meet up 20 years later. Because the two sets of twins look identical, wives, sisters, bill collectors, street hustlers, girlfriends, townspeople, jewellers and ladies of the night are thrown into a tailspin of total confusion with outrageous results. Bomb-itty was originally created in 1998 as a senior theatre project at New York University, but quickly went on to become a huge critical success and audience pleaser Off-Broadway at New York s 45 Bleeker Theatre. Since then Bomb-itty has knocked both audiences and critics off their feet and swept awards in New York City, Florida, Chicago and Edinburgh.

Our Review:

9 May 2003

Conceptualised in 1998 as a class project at New York University, The Bomb-itty of Errors did the rounds in the US before coming to the Edinburgh Fringe last summer, collecting a couple of awards on its way to the West End.

Given all the pre-opening publicity, it's perhaps unnecessary to point out that this is a modern hip-hop take on Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. On first reading that, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a mistake to put Shakespeare and hip-hop in the same sentence, or for suspecting this show is the misguided effort of a group of aging die-hard classicists desperate to enlighten the youth. I did. But this mayhem musical is far too intelligent, and far too streetwise, for that. What's more, against such odds, it's a hit.

For those less acquainted with the bard's Roman-set story, The Comedy of Errors tells the tale of two sets of identical twins separated at birth in a shipwreck. Twenty years later they find themsel...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.40.0.128) - 25 June 2003:

This is a truly inventive show from the fringe and due to the energy of its performers it deserves to be in the west end. However I do not give it 5 because i grew slightly bored of the concept towards the end and the raps grew to be quite boring. However the rhymes are extremely funny and all the performances are brilliant, this is stones in his pockets with rap. The 4 men really give it their all and I felt really sorry for them as there were not many people in the ambassodors. If you want to gaze at some truly raw energy and have a fun time go and see this show. ...

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