Play of the week: Measure for Measure

Okay, so perhaps it'll be easier to remember that between Friday and Sunday this blog will be updated. I apologize to everyone, but times are getting busier by the minute.

Anyway, instead of just keeping updates about my life, I think for this term's set of blogs will revolve around the plays going on at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It might be good for you guys to hear how the productions are doing down here in Ashland, and this way it makes for a good exercise since I need to write analysis papers on the plays.

So here we go!

William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, a rather lesser known play, is essentially about a Duke entrusting a deputy position to one of his trusted men, who in turns is corrupt with power by shutting down all brothels, sentencing a man to death for "stealing his wife" and then bribing this man's sister to give up her virginity for the life of her brother (which wouldn't be a problem if she wasn't just starting her nunnery business). I wasn't entirely sure what to make of this play, seeing as I read very little of the script before seeing the show (...I'm a horrible theatre major, heh). But I thought it was a very enticing choice to set the play in the 1970s, which addressed a lot of issues (state vs sexuality, state vs religion, state vs immigration, etc.). The set is essentially one generic color, and it opens up late at night in a business office, which would consist of grey walls, white floors and geometric shapes. Thanks to the lighting, I genuinely believed I was transported to the ten other locations this play took place in. There is also the pleasure of latin-american music played during certain scenes, which added a little nice spice to the static nature of some of the performances.
Not...that the performances were bad. Just intense sometimes.

Overall, if you did want to see an OSF show, Measure for Measure is the one you should be seeing. At least that way you can acclaim your smart rights to your friends by telling them about a play they've probably never heard of. Hurrah!

Anyway, I hope y'all are doing well! I'm so sorry for the delayed post, but at least next week you'll get a treat for one of the comedies shown this year at OSF! Please let me know if you think these reviews are a good idea or not!
Have a good rest of your week, guys!
Later~