Sam Lilja with the ensemble (Photo by Rich Soublet II)
Reviewed by Keelyn McDermott
The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego
Through July 12
RECOMMENDED
Sam Lilja and Amelia Pedlow (Photo by Rick Soublet II)
The Old Globe’s production of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare is a perfectly lovely night of theater under the stars. Its plot is a beguiling set of twists and turns that may not always be logical, but are reliably compelling.
The play follows Isabella’s (Ameila Pedlow) quest to free her brother Claudio (David T. Patterson) from a death sentence for having premarital relations with his beloved Juliet (Kayce Wilson) — a law only enforced since the Duke (Ato Blankson-Wood) stepped down and left his appointed deputy, the authoritarian Angelo (Sam Lilja), in charge.
Outdoor Shakespeare is unmatched in any context; here, one’s enjoyment is greater still thanks to the outstanding work of the designers. The play is set in 1930s Vienna between the fall of the Hapsburg Empire and the beginning of World War II when questions similar to those posed in the play were being grappled with — questions such as where lies the balance between law and morality. Scenic and costume designer Lex Liang’s three-tiered set seamlessly transitions from palace to prison with the addition of a swirling late-Nouveau style gate on a circular track center stage. (However, the inclusion in the background of a banner with a woman with an eyebrow slit painted on it felt out of place given the time period and overall style.) Lighting designer Russell H. Champa rises to the challenge of illumining an outdoor stage and seamlessly takes us through rather drastic tonal changes with the help of sound designer Melanie Chen Cole.
Making sense of the plot of Measure for Measure is problematic , so in the program we’re encouraged to revel in the chaos rather than try to untangle it. Certain directorial choices by Vivienne Benesch serve only to intensify confusion. Many times, there are simply too many people on stage. Ensemble members oftentimes have their own storylines playing out alongside the plot — sometimes pulling focus away from it. The greatest example of this is in the opening sequence, which is meant to set up the relationships among the main characters, but there are too many things happening on stage to take away any of the helpful information being relayed.
That said, the performances in this production are outstanding, and reason enough to see it. Ameila Pedlow (Isabella) is an outstanding Shakespearean actor, capable of displaying a vast emotional range while clearly and expertly delivering prose in a way that anyone might understand. Another standout is Calvin Leon Smith, who plays Lucio; while perhaps not stylistically aligned with the rest of the cast, he strikes a balance between the suave transatlantic delivery indicative of the time period and the clear diction required by the material — resulting in a distinct character that is extremely engaging to
watch. Lastly, in his monologue, Ato Blankson Wood as the Duke manages to make an argument for the virtues of death over life – no easy feat.
The Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. Check website for schedule; thru July 12. Runtime: two hours with a 15 minute intermission. https://www.theoldglobe.org/
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