“Well, what has he done?” sophomore Christian Stutzman as Mistress Overdone said.
“A woman!” first-year Avery Trinh as Pompey said.
EMU theater executed this moment of clever dialogue along with others in Assistant Professor Justin Poole’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” this past Sunday. The adaptation emphasized the darkness of Shakespeare’s “problem play.” To emphasize the sinister mood in “Measure for Measure,” Poole added a chorus, which is typical in Greek plays.
The addition of the chorus strengthened the play, highlighting its immoral aspects. The echoing worked particularly well in the scenes with Angelo, played by firstyear Isaac Longacre. During his conversation with Isabel, played by junior Anna Ressler, she said, “You are too cold.” Echoing her, the chorus said, “That is well said.” During Angelo’s monologue, the chorus not only echoed Angelo, but mimicked his movements and eerily walked throughout the crowd. The chorus coupled with Angelo’s labored movements showed his inner turmoil. The request and advance he made upon Isabel sickened him, yet he still found himself desiring her.
The lighting in the scenes with Isabel and Angelo was also strong. Isabel had a white spotlight on her, enhancing the beauty and chastity of her character. Her flowing white gown made her look elegant and angelic, which heightened the horror of the request Angelo was making upon her. It screamed, “Look at what this man is doing with his power to this pure, young maid.” While Isabel was surrounded in a white spotlight, Angelo was navigating through the shadows, with purple and yellow lights adding subtle color to the outskirts of the stage. Although many of Poole’s choices enhanced the darkness lurking in Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” he still kept the witty banter and other comedic aspects of the play. Those moments of comedy were a relief from the overall dark play.
First-year Jay Sheppard, Trinh, and Stutzman had the most opportunities to show off their comedic prowess. Sheppard nailed the sleepy and drunk Barnardine before his execution. He pulled his toboggan over his eyes and seemed to have no other care in the world.
The interaction between Pompey, Trinh, and Mistress Overdone —Stutzman — was well-done, but over the upbeat piano and wailing of Mistress Overdone because the brothels were going to be closed, it was difficult to hear what Trinh, playing Pompey, was saying at some points.
However, in the other scenes with Pompey, Trinh’s voice was audible so that the audience could not only enjoy his manically playful demeanor but also the witty dialogue.
Trinh executed the wild Pompey by having his eyes wide, occasionally flicking his tongue out, and moving about the stage quickly and shiftily.
Junior Yoel Bobadilla, first-year Andrew Stoltzfus, and graduate student Renata Loberg also brought life to the performance. Bobadilla was a strong member of the chorus and played Claudio well.
Stoltzfus portrayed the Duke and did a good job showing the irony in his interactions with Lucio, and you could clearly hear the iambs as he spoke.
Loberg did an excellent job with Mariana and showing the confusion she felt, still loving Angelo but also being hurt and horrified by his action.
Overall, the actors, Poole, stage manager, scene, costume and lighting design, and music composition came together to portray “Measure for Measure” in sinister but true-to-Shakespeare manner.
