MEASURE FOR MEASURE (Shake-Scene Theatre Company)****

 

By Cal

Link: https://www.patreon.com/shakesceneshakespeare

Available until: Unknown

This is a really difficult play. There is so much in it that’s wrong. So many characters who behave badly – and most of them get away with it. I don’t know why this play is so particularly difficult when the world is full of stories about people behaving very badly – and it’s not all fiction - but Measure for Measure usually makes me feel very uncomfortable.

So massive credit to Shake-Scene Shakespeare Company for presenting this play in a way that enabled me to enjoy it. This production doesn’t hide from the play’s crimes, but it also doesn’t make so much of them that it’s impossible to think of anything else. It felt like I was being told to sit back and enjoy the play and not worry about anything else because maybe we’re not here to judge the characters. The important thing is that we wouldn’t behave like any of these people – and I think most of us wouldn’t.

There is actually a lot to enjoy in this play. It has an interesting story, a number of characters who find themselves tested morally and do what they feel will be the best thing in the circumstances. There have also been various modern references added to the text for this production which still made sense in the Shakespearean context, but which were instantly recognisable and very amusing. This Zoom production of Measure for Measure was first presented in May, but many of the references to the pandemic are still (sadly) relevant now and there are moments and events which, although in the past now, certainly won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

The cast is made up of Shake-Scene Shakespeare regulars and as always, they’re working from cue scripts. It sounds really difficult to me, but the performance flows naturally and the acting is excellent. I was a little bit worried at first by how difficult it was to read the names of the actors on the Zoom screens, but there’s a cast list in the description which was really helpful. Even if I’m not reviewing, I like to know who I’m watching.

Not that I’d have needed a cast list to recognise the brilliant Eugenia Low. She always makes a great and memorable impression in small roles and it was very exciting to see her in the important role of Isabella. Her performance highlights Isabella’s physical and emotional vulnerability as she is plunged into situations she might not have known existed and would certainly not have expected to be part of, herself. It’s a gripping performance of touching innocence which turns to complete desperation.

Isabella is manipulated by two very clever men in this play, the Duke and Angelo, who were played by Matt Williams and Alexandra Kataigida. Both gave excellent performances with showed the intelligence of the men. The Duke, whether as himself or in disguise as the Friar, has a powerful presence which makes it completely conceivable that everyone ends up doing as he says. Alexandra is scary, demanding, cold and very persuasive as Angelo, who is up there with some of Shakespeare’s worst villains when he’s played as well as this. Valentina Vinci is surprisingly non-villainous as Claudio. Even when he’s making such a terrible request of Isabella, he’s clearly worn-down by prison life and fear.

Another of the play’s villains is Lucio, and Georgia Andrews is brilliant in the role. Her Lucio is poisonous, fake and cruel, but Georgia manages to find a certain amount of humour in the role and gives him a very strong personality. It’s fascinating to watch his manner changing depending on who he is with. It’s easy to see why these people are the authority figures and if you find it unrealistic that such actively horrible people are in a position of power, I can only ask where you’ve been over the past four years.

There is actually a surprising amount of humour in Measure for Measure. Dewi Hughes shows great comedic skills as Elbow, while Claire Richardson is excellent as the hilariously-named Pompey Bum (Pompey Bum, Nick Bottom, Dr Butts, Coriolanus… who says Shakespeare is boring and respectable?). Siegffried Lowe-Walker makes much of the small role of Barnardine.

Luckily, not everyone is corrupt in Measure for Measure – Linda Mathis is exacting as Escalus, and Simon Balcon’s Provost does his best for those in his care. Larissa Oates’ passionate Julietta and Bridget Randolph’s Mariana behave badly according to their times, but at least they seem to be motivated by love… even if their taste isn’t the best.

An excellent production of a very challenging play.