Measure for Measure (The Swan Theatre)

There was a strangeness about this production, and it reminded me of  the television programme Tales of the Unexpected.  There was a conjuring Duke  (Raymond Coulthard) who did slight of hand tricks, but the biggest trick of them all would be the bed trick.  The Duke attempted to connect with the audience, but there was also a darkness in this production which was emphasised in the colours and mood conveyed by the set.

The production explored sex in different contexts. We saw examples of S and M, love (Claudio and Juliet), and desire.

Where this production was let down was that there was no spark or chemistry between Angelo (Jamie Beamish) and Isabella (Jodie McNee). I just couldn’t see how this tightly dressed man could  be attracted to Isabella. Where Isabella should have passion in her pleading for her brother’s life there wasn’t any. However, there were some really good performances from Bruce Alexander as the Provost and Geoffrey Beevers as Escalus.  Joseph Kloska was great as Pompey.  His ad libbing was very appropriate and he did extremely well to involve the audience in the production.  At one point he noted me and pointed out my red hair to everyone in the audience.

I felt that the production didn’t use the thrust stage as well as it could, at times it felt like it could have been in a proscenium  arch theatre, as often the action felt as if it was framed.

At times the production felt a little slow, but it was enormously intriguing and that was what kept my attention.

Reviews

Measure for Measure, RSC Swan, Stratford Upon Avon – review | Theatre

Measure for Measure, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon – Reviews – Theatre & Dance – The Independent

Measure for Measure – review | Stage | The Guardian

Measure for Measure, RSC, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, review – Telegraph

The Stage / Reviews / Measure for Measure

Blogs

Margate Sands

Julie Raby1 Comment

Written on the Heart (The Swan Theatre)

Written on the Heart is a fantastic glimpse at an interesting period of history. There are some really engaging performances particularly from Oliver Ford Davies as Lancelot Andrews and Stephen Boxer as William Tyndale. The play explores the creation of the King James Bible and focuses on a group set up to compile it. Alongside wrangles over wording, the politics of the project are dramatised. Some of the most interesting parts are the references back to previous translations. There are some really engaging moments when characters debate over words and phrasing. At one point there’s a debate about whether ‘Thy faith has saved me rather than they faith has healed thee,’ is correct.

Written on the Heart presents a clear sense of moving forward. There’s a wider society at view, but at the same time, the play presents Andrews’ story and there is a focus how he tries to confront his past. The use of flashbacks work really well and there is a sense of a structure in the play that takes you through the events. My one criticism was that I found the play a little too long, but I learnt a lot, and enjoyed the exploration of detail which the play drew attention to. It felt very satisfying to have to listen carefully and that language was a major feature of the production.

Julie RabyLeave a comment