Measure for Measure

By Robert Iles - 26th Mar 2008

In fairness, I don't think Measure for Measure will ever be my favourite Shakespeare but having said that, Creation Theatre have again made me enjoy a play against my initial impressions!

I don't know why I have never warmed to Measure for Measure, perhaps I feel it just can't make up its mind if it is a comedy (there's not that much to laugh at really), or a lovers' tragedy (not that I care much for most of the characters) or something else - perhaps its just not Shakespeare at his sparkling best, after all, there aren't that many lines you go "oh that's where it came from" to! But for whatever reason it is not one I would normally choose to go and see - but there's something about the way Creation Theatre handle Shakespeare that always seems to reach out and grab me, and so I went! And I'm very glad I did as this was an accessible production, easy to follow despite the (at times ludicrous) twists and turns of the plot and easy to look at, thanks to a clean but flexible design that brought us into a semi-modern Vienna and a degree of raunchiness that would awaken pretty well any audience ...

Charlotte Conquest's directing keeps the pace pretty fast, which is necesary to stop you thinking too much about the plot. Characters are clearly drawn and delineated with Noel White's Duke offset well against Adam Newsome's Angelo and Robert Lister as a solid Escalus. In fact Angelo's journey was perhaps the most credible on stage - very watchable. Alexander Caine provided a suitably objectionable Lucio, we cringe because we're supposed to! Amy Stacey carries off the innocent, intelligent Isabella well - perhaps too much "speak out front" in the direction for what is a realtively intimate space, but a very credible presentation of this difficult (and ultimately shallow) character - offset well by Caroline Devlin's Mistress Overdone. Playing the Provost as a woman (Lucy-Anne Holmes) worked fine in this production. A good ensemble piece (Richard Kidd and Richard Neale providing the remining parts) that hung together well and kept the audience involved and intrigued.

This was Creation's first use of the new North Wall theatre in North Oxford, a lovely venue I'd like to get my hands on myself! But it is an unusually short run (and small auditorium) for Creation so if you want to see it you'd better get your skates on!