Written by orange• July 16, 2024• 3:33 am• Irvine, Review, Theater, UCI, Uncategorized

New Swan Shakespeare Festival : Measure for Measure @ UCI – Review

Written by Daniella Litvak

William Shakespeare’s plays are generally classified as the following. There are the tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, etc. There are the histories: Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, Henry V, Richard III, etc. There are the comedies: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, etc. There are the late romances: Cymbelline, Pericles, The Tempest, etc. Then there are the problem plays.

Story:

The problem plays earned the label for (1) presenting stories about social and/or moral problems and (2) not being easily definable as either a tragedy or comedy. Measure For Measure is a quintessential example of a problem play. Duke Vincento (Greg Ungar) has left Vienna (modern-day Vienna in this production) in the hands of his deputy, Angelo (Abel Garcia). Naturally, the power goes to Angelo’s head. He sentences Claudio (Zach Trent) to death for having premarital sex with his fiancée, Juliet (Zoe Elyse Nauman). Isabella (Heather Lee Echeverria), Caludio’s sister and a novice nun, pleads with Angelo for her brother’s life, but he will only entertain the notion if she sleeps with him. Meanwhile, Friar Lodowick (Greg Ungar) has arrived in the city and takes a keen interest in Claudio’s case and Angelo’s leadership abilities.

This production of Measure For Measure is successful precisely because the cast and crew are aware of the messiness and problems with the story but embrace them. (I highly recommend reading the Director’s Notes in the program). The plot and the tone are all over the place. The issues raised in the play are complicated, and the solutions provided to them, despite being presented in comedy trappings, are not satisfying.

Direction:

The New Swan Festival’s ending pushes back on the notion of wrapping everything up with a neat, happy bow. The torment the characters went through shouldn’t be merely swept aside. Conventions taken for granted are deconstructed. The tragedy has to be as acknowledged along with the comedy. It is indeed an ending that provides much food for thought. Updating the setting was another smart choice, as it conveyed to the audience that the issues facing the characters were not so far removed from the current day. Combining several characters into the character of Overdone was also a nice choice, as Rachel Vanwormer was good in the role, so giving her more to play was appreciated.

Despite the problematic nature of Measure For Measure, there is a lot to like about it. There is so much good snark in it. I want memes featuring the line “groping for trouts in a peculiar river.” The verbal dueling between characters is as thrilling as any sword fight. There are speeches, particularly when Isabella and Claudio discuss Antonio’s sexual extortion, that rival the ones featured in Shakespeare’s more famous plays.

Acting:

The cast is more than capable of navigating the material. As Angelo, Garcia probably has it the hardest when it comes to juggling the dramatic and comedic aspects, but he nailed it. His delivery of very plain, simple lines such as “That’s not good,” had me in stitches. Unger also gave a strong performance. The way he acted out the final scenes, especially in light of the ending, was inspiring. Echeverria shows us why Isabella is the heart and soul of the show. Vanwormer’s Overdone and Adam Koda’s Lucio were scene-stealers. Every time they were on stage, they were a joy to watch.

Costumes:

Costumes were another highlight. The thought and detail put into them showed. My favorite costumes were those of Overdone and Lucio. They were colorful and vibrant and suited the characters’ flamboyant personalities.

Design & Elements:

Being at the New Swan Theater is an experience in itself. It does much of the heavy lifting for transporting you into the show. The additional set elements, such as the lighting and the city-scape silhouette, work well for the play.

If you go see Measure For Measure, and it is recommended, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, depending on where you park, it can be a trek to the Gateway Commons, where the New Swan Theater is located. Second, getting to the bathrooms is also a bit of a walk.