Measure for Measure

Synopsis

In a dark and sinful city, where fear prevails, no one is safe - not even those who have given their lives to God. Isabella is a novice nun, committed to her vows of chastity. Claudio her brother enjoys the company of prostitutes and pleasures of the flesh. In a city where vice is rife, Duke Vincentio has lost control and disappears from public life leaving his cousin Angelo to rule in his place. Angelo begins by reinstating old laws long forgotten...laws that condemn those to death for having sex outside of marriage. It is not long before Claudio is caught. When Claudio summons Isabella to his aid however, Angelo himself is tempted to fall and presents Isabella with an impossible choice; perpetual damnation or her brother's life?

Our Review:

24 November 2011

Measure for Measure is the second production of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s winter season, directed with panache by RSC associate Roxana Silbert. Arguably one of the more directorially taxing pieces of the canon, Measure has been made thoroughly coherent in this production.

I have to admit I've had precious little involvement with the play before; therefore it was always going to be interesting to see how the story conveyed to me. I was not disappointed in the least.

The stand-out performance goes to Raymond Coulthard as the somewhat enigmatic yet slightly effeminate Duke Vincentio, complete with sleight of hand trickery and knowing asides to the audience, deploying particularly fine skill in his soliloquies.

It is fair to say this production is very accessible to those unfamiliar with Shakespeare, with strong techniques to guide the audience through. However...

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Latest User Review

Mark Bridge - 1 January 2012:

I don’t think anyone can have told the actors that this is a “problem play” – so they had no problems with it. I’m so glad. ...

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