2 minute read
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
AUGUST 19 – SEPTEMBER 18
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Alice Reagan with Ariel Bock, Nehassaiu deGannes, Ally Farzetta, David Gow, Rory Hammond, Charls Sedgwick Hall, Vaughn Pole, and Indika Senanayake
When Angelo is abruptly appointed to rule over a chaotic and debauched city, he restores order with repressive laws and an iron fist, while putting Isabella, a young nun and the object of his own twisted desire, in an unthinkable position. “To whom should I complain?” is all she can utter. Filled with dramatic twists and turns, Measure for Measure also dishes up a fine array of wit, comedy, and passion as human nature and law collide during one of Shakespeare’s most passionately talked about plays in the canon.
DIRECTOR’S TAKE
“Who would believe thee, Isabel?” With these five words, Shakespeare comes hurtling through the centuries to us, echoing the words of so many men to too many women who were empowered to speak during the seismic #MeToo movement. What drew me to Measure for Measure was the conundrum Isabella faces when Angelo proposes she forfeit her virginity to save her brother’s life—and how desire becomes a cudgel in the hands of a man in power. After a weeklong workshop and several performances in the Roman Garden in Summer 2021, I now see Angelo’s obscene proposition as part of a whole web of power dynamics at work in the play, and how these dynamics undo the main characters’ most noble intentions. The urban world of Measure for Measure is a place where the leader has taken her hands off the wheel and handed power over to exactly the wrong person. Where once laws were ignored, they are now enforced with deadly consequences. Shakespeare, as he often does, shows us two classes: the cultured, powerful men and women who are in control of the city, and the underbelly of this society, a motley assortment of miscreants who make a living off the sex trade and live in general depravity. These folks are the most relatable and lovable people in the play, perhaps because they take care of each other without judgment. The interplay of these two classes reveals a writer uneasy with the world he depicts—just whom are we rooting for? The questions we’re attempting to tackle in this production of Measure for Measure center on power, both political and interpersonal. We will purposefully re-map gender and race onto the play, inviting new ways to understand the characters and their positions. The most important question we think the play is asking is: Who should lead us forward? By the end of our journey, hopefully, we will offer an intriguing, alternative model. Not seen at Shakespeare & Company for more than two decades, this Measure for Measure features longtime company artist Ariel Bock as the Duke, while the luminous Nehassaiu deGannes takes on the role of Isabella, joined by an ensemble of Shakespeare & Co. seasoned veterans and rising talent. I look forward to bringing this provocative, ultimately hopeful play, to Lenox audiences. — Alice Reagan
