Measure for Measure
by William Shakespeare
directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld
Fiasco Theater's production of Measure for Measure was a revival of one of Shakespeare's most provocative plays. The play is a dark comedy about a Duke who leaves his city of Vienna in the hands of a puritanical deputy, Angelo, who quickly cracks down on vice.
The show, directed by Fiasco's Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, was praised for being "fizzy" and "refreshingly accessible". The six-actor ensemble played multiple roles, bringing a sense of "synergy" and "gleeful, commedia-inspired" invention to the production. The company used a minimalist set of six movable doors, which allowed for swift scene changes and kept the audience's focus on the actors' performances. In addition to its initial run at the New Victory Theater, it was also presented at Long Wharf and Actors Theater of Louisville.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
by William Shakespeare
directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld
presented by Fiasco Theater and The New Victory Theater, Long Wharf Theatre, and Actors Theatre of Louisville
Fiasco Theater's production of Measure for Measure was a revival of one of Shakespeare's most provocative plays. It was a dark comedy about a Duke who leaves his city of Vienna in the hands of a puritanical deputy, Angelo, who quickly cracks down on vice. The show, directed by Fiasco's Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, was praised for being "fizzy" and "refreshingly accessible". The six-actor ensemble played multiple roles, bringing a sense of "synergy" and "gleeful, commedia-inspired" invention to the production. The company used a minimalist set of six movable doors, which allowed for swift scene changes and kept the audience's focus on the actors' performances. The production was a success, and in addition to its initial run at the New Victory Theater, it was also presented at Long Wharf and Actors Theater of Louisville.
New Victory/Long Wharf Production
Featuring Jessie Austrian, Noah Brody, Paul L. Coffey, Andy Grotelueschen, Ben Steinfeld, and Emily Young.
Creative Team
Set Designer: Derek McLane
Costume Designer: Whitney Locher
Lighting Designer: Christopher Ackerlind (Long Wharf), Tim Cryan (New Victory)
Actors Theatre of Louisville Production
Featuring Paul L. Coffey, Matt Dallal, Devin E. Haqq, Stephanie Machado, Paco Tolson, and Jessica Wortham.
Creative Team
Set Designer: Derek McLane
Costume Designer: Whitney Locher
Lighting Designer: Christopher Ackerlind
The list above includes the core creative teams, but is not comprehensive. We are grateful and lucky to have worked with everyone who made Fiasco Theater’s Measure for Measure possible, from the teams backstage and front of house to design associates and interns, and all of you, our community and audience members.
Reviews
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“The folks at Fiasco, though, understand that Shakespeare is quite complex enough to begin with, and that anachronistic glosses are more likely to muddle than illuminate...Fiasco tells its complicated stories simply, letting the patterns within Shakespeare’s plots and poetry assert themselves as organically as possible.”
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“Fiasco passionately performs “Measure For Measure” without going overboard. Each of the actors delivers Shakespeare’s blank verse naturally and with apparent spontaneity, assuring that even newcomers to Shakespeare understand the action.”
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“Through suggestion and simplicity in all aspects, the Bard's often overcomplicated tale of sex and hypocrisy in a big city is rendered perfectly clear and continuously engaging by Fiasco.”