Reader Reviews
Measure for Measure (Olivier (National Theatre), West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I found this production highly confusing and i missed the end as i was nearly asleep! I liked the contempory feel yet it became like a tv show rather then a theatre production - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.249.155.233) | 22 Jun 04 |
| Expensive, time consuming, confusing and morally degrading. But some good performances, Pompey he make me laugh. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.249.155.233) | 22 Jun 04 |
| A gripping evening. This tremendous production shows how Shakespeare can be played in a contempary way. I didn't know the play, but found all the performances well fleshed out, especially Isabella, who I found fascinating to watch. There's a fabulously sinister atmosphere to a lot of it, thanks to the background music. I had no problems hearing any words except in the opening scene. Highly recommended. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.113.17.219) | 15 Jun 04 |
| I thought this Measure fell slightly the wrong side of tricksy (not just the excessive use of TV sets, but the mikes, the prison noises, etc) but I did enjoy it and found the emphasis on sex and passion appropriate. I also liked Paul Rhys. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 02 Jun 04 |
| I disagree that superficial directorial flourishes have won people over. If they're like me, they have been won over by an entertaining production that brings out the somewhat sinister aspects of this odd play, especially through David Troughton's terrific protrayal of the Duke as a powerful manipulator. As far as the mechanical bits are concerned I thought this was a comparatively toned-down Complicite. The only thing that grated was the early use of George Bush's image on a TV screen, which seemed a token, rather lame and ultimately pointless gesture. The text is clear, the storytelling sharp, the overall feel one of effective conciseness. Lighting is very well-used - which is good to see after a couple of NT productions in which the lighting, usually a strong point, has been wanting - and good use is also made of shadows and silhouettes. Now, roll on the Globe's production. BACKDRIFTER - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.74.155.116) | 02 Jun 04 |
| Its good as a 'normal' production but not good enough to be called complcite - its just a sort of obvious 'university', 'big brother' style reading of the piece. But for me Complicite is more than just Simon McBurney - its that whole group of european performers/directors who devised and created Street of Crocs and gained Complicite its name. Doesn't need all the technical hoop - la just to get back to basics. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 01 Jun 04 |
| Gotta say that having played, it the Ollie is notoriously acoustically dodgy, depending where you sit, hence Trevor's insistence on a gentle radio-miking of the 99-2000 ensemble, what can you do when the architect refuses to allow any improvements stating " you wouldn't mess with a Leonardo..." hem hem, so that's a problem. But McB is the man, actor or director (or both) and the talents of the cast are not to be sniffed at... gotta be better than the RSC's limp produce last year, hey? - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.67.75) | 31 May 04 |
| There is a great deal in this production which is very impressive indeed. Simon McBurney gets better and better as a director. This is an exceptionally tricky play to bring off and he does it very well. For once, the use of cameras is an aid to understanding the production rather than a hindrance. A great deal of very good acting - David Troughton giving one of his very best performances; Paul Rhys continuing his creation of tortured characters. But.........you can have too much of a good thing and I wish that McBurney had relaxed his directorial control occasionally so that the audience was left to think for itself from time to time. So, the George Bush moment was pointless and the production would have been better without it. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.34.14) | 31 May 04 |
| I too went to see this production thinking it would be pretentious but I found it exciting and gripping - the acting was great - esp Paul Rhys as Angelo. Two and a half hours without an interval didn't seem long as far as the production was concerned but the seats were so uncomfortable I could have done with a chance to stretch my legs and other parts of my anatomy. It's the kind of production which needs a second visit to appreciate it fully. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.204.48.220) | 28 May 04 |
| Well I am deeply shocked that a few directorial flourishes have won the critics over. This is a play I do not really know and despite enjoying the moments of brilliance overall I came out not really knowing what was going on. It is a critics and officianados production, if shakespeare were around he would have taken his name of the poster. It doesnt tell the story. It's all look at me and not listen to me and understand and ultimately care. Naomi Frederick was like a hyperactive toddler, terrible. (Toby Jones as always brilliant.) Obviously I'm in a minority. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.255.64.8) | 28 May 04 |
| I've seen this play perfomed a number of times and have never found it so exciting or relevant as this performance. Really enjoyed the staging and perfomances and didn't find it the least bit pretentious. Even with classical text, Simon McBurney finds a way to add to the experience. highly recommended. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (158.143.37.114) | 25 May 04 |
| Somewhat pretentious and chaotic interpretation, which was really let down by very poor acoutics. Seated on row G on the upper circle (the back row of the theatre) I could not discern much of the dialog - this really must be sorted out as a priority. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.253.96.44) | 24 May 04 |
| well, the first piece of Complicite I have seen live and I was impressed however the audience let it down for me. It was full of school children lauging at the most inappropriate momments. Impressive work but still quite pretentious! Good use of technical things like the cameras and the projections. I did enjoy it but i would want to go on a night without all the school children there. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.34.14) | 20 May 04 |
| Compared their other works, it was not as creative. However, still throughly gripping. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.136.160.226) | 19 May 04 |
