Reader Reviews
Measure for Measure (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I'm not usually a fan of "modern" dress. The aim seems to be to reproduce a "post-war" Vienna (a la "The Third Man"). I thought it worked OK. I think the outstanding performance is Paul Higgins as the Duke. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.158.145.178) | 25 Sep 03 |
| Even worse than the same director's "Richard III". Few Shakespeare plays call for a greater suspension of disbelief, but I'm afraid my disbelief remained utterly unsuspended. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.168.167) | 22 Aug 03 |
| First the good points: The staging of the play in 1930s Vienna works exceptionally well (The WOS reviewers point about execution being a tad harsh for sex out of marriage is but a quibble). Second, Laura Hunt's costume department exceeds even the usual high RSC standards to combine with the first point to make a wonderful visual statement. Thirdly, Daniel Evans' Angelo is a wonderful study of the angst of a falling disciplinarian, denying his faults until in such a corner as to proceed is futile. He is ably supported particularly by James Hayes as Escalus and Simon Trinder (in his debut season turning in another excellent performance to go with his outing in the Shrew suggesting that the RSC have found gem). Emma Fielding's Isabella is passable - no more. She is a fine actress and gives a sound performance, but there is little to suggest the piousness of the character or her inner turmoil at the choices she has to make. To the negative points - I disagree with other reviewers in my opinion of John Lloyd Fillingham's Lucio. While very good in the final "court" scene, he failed to extract the fullness of the characer (and comic moments) in the preceeding scenes. This is an important failing in the play. This was compounded by a very weak Paul Higgins as The Duke. In the early scenes in particular there was no sense of meaning in his lines, and while this is not Shakespeare at his lyrical best, there is enough in the material to suggest more than Mr Higgins gives us. At times he appears to be going for a world speed record and at others he ascribes to the school of "if in doubt, shout". Thus it is almost impossible to get the meaning of his situation. Where is the regret that the fall of Vienna is in part due to him? Where is the thought process? (He seems to think that putting his hand to his temples is enough to demonstrate "I am thinking"). It has oft been said that this is a complex play with simple characters - but they are not so simple as Mr Higgins (and perhaps less guiltily, Miss Fielding) appear to suggest. This was close to being a four star performance but was let down by two poor performances (The Duke and Lucio). The same director has a similar problem in Richard III where the females let him down - Sean Holmes has some innovative and effective ideas that bring the play to life but he seems to have less ability to get what is needed from actors who should know better. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.107.200.245) | 26 Jul 03 |
| Think that people are missing the subtleties of this fine production. Definitely one to see - better than any other production of this play I've seen - Fielding and Evans are excellent. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.254.64.5) | 03 Jul 03 |
| A wonderful performance by Emma Fielding as Isabella lifts this production out of the doldrums. The set is drab and dull and I nearly fell asleep before the interval. It improved after helped by a bravura portrayal of Lucio by John Lloyd Fillingham. Worth seeing but not one of the RSC's best. Maeve - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.8.166.80) | 23 May 03 |
| Some good performances, but the decision to update this play was a poor one. If it is set much later than the late 19th century it's so difficult to take Isabella seriously. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.168.164) | 14 May 03 |
