MEASURE FOR MEASURE. To 23 November 2008.
London.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
by William Shakespeare.
The Courtyard Theatre. Pitfield Street, London N1 6EU.
Tue to Sun 7:30pm.
Runs 2hr 40min One interval.
TICKETS: 0870 163 0717.
www.centuriontheatre.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 31 October 2008.
Shakespeare debates morals through a compelling Courtyard production.
Coursework for many, and a play I last read more than twenty years ago, Measure for Measure has the capacity to be a confusing read. Billed as one of His 'Comedies' it falls outside straightforward categorisation, lacking tragedy and indeed much romantic romance. It is however a thought-provoking piece; moral and social dilemmas as relevant today as they were four hundred years ago are well presented, particularly through the authoritarian, hypocritical Angelo, "The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most?" and the chaste novitiate Isabella who is offered her brother’s life in exchange for her virginity.
Despairing with the results of his lax leadership Duke Vincentio places Venice in his deputy Angelo’s control and disguising himself as a friar, disappears from society to spend time incognito, in an attempt to discover what ails his State. Angelo seemingly proves an intransigent steward, upholding the law to the letter, until he meets fair Isabella and fails his office. Shakespeare employs some of his familiar tricks and misdirections, allowing the Duke to expose Angelo’s crimes.
Jeremy Drake presents Angelo as a considered but uncompromising ruler, his flaws and crimes mere inconveniences. While Denis Delahunt is a strong Vincentio, he rarely gets beyond good humour even during his Machiavellian denouement. Nick Earnshaw provides merriment throughout with his ebullient Lucio, full of pomp and bluster but ultimately doomed.
It is, however, the women that deliver Shakespearean passion, with Lucy Le Messurier’s Isabella, forthright and virtuous and magnificently compelling, and Kathryn Ritchie’s fervent Mariana, whose heartfelt pleading for the life of Angelo, the man who rejected her, yet whom she still loves five years later, is both undeniable and persuading.
Michael Sargent’s deft production breathes tremendous life into the script, creating a take on the morale tale which is both explicable and highly entertaining. With strong performers, there's a delightful attention to detail (apparently even Mistress Overdone’s whores have back stories), a wonderful energy throughout and it is a tale very well told.
Elbow/Barnardine/Friar Peter/Gentleman: Michael Bagwell.
Francisca/Whore: Beth Dalloway.
Duke: Denis Delahunt.
Angelo: Jeremy Drakes.
Provost: Davin Eadie.
Lucio: Nick Earnshaw.
Isabella: Lucy Le Messurier.
Mistress Overdone: Louise Munro.
Claudio/Froth: Hugh O’Shea.
Mariana: Kathryn Ritchie.
Escalus/Abhorson: Roger Sansom.
Pompey: Nicholas Waters.
Juliet: Jemma Wright-Jones.
Director: Michael Sargent.
Technical Director: Derek Drescher.
Design Consultant: Katy Daniels.
Costume: Katy Daniels.
2008-11-03 02:58:26