THEATRE: 14 DECEMBER 2017 By GERALDINE WORTHINGTON

Measure for Measure, by William Shakespeare | Directed by Lizzie Schebesta

Sport for Jove Theatre Co (www.sportforjove.com.au) | Bella Vista Farm Park, Bella Vista, Sydney | Until 28 January

Measure for Measure is set in Vienna, a city of brothels, sex and sin. Duke Vincentio (Yalin Ozucelik) wants a clean-up campaign, so he instructs his deputy, Angelo (Gabriel Fancourt) to enforce the changes which include the arrest and subsequent death sentence of Claudia (Janine Watson) for fornication.

Add into this mix a morally upright sister, Isabella (Claudia Ware), a disguised Duke dressed as a Friar, a secret night rendezvous with the wrong person, a proposed execution, a hangover, a pirate, a confession, and a marriage proposal and you have the convoluted plotline of many of the Bard’s comedies, including Measure for Measure.

Given all this absurdity and the formulaic device of disguise and coincidence, it is uncanny that the play is still relevant today. However, it is the interrogation of the conflict between individual rights and sexual freedom, combined with Lizzie Schebesta’s intelligent feminist-driven direction, that expertly connects Shakespeare’s writing to our time.

Contract and dowry, have, for the most part, disappeared. However, this production presents the array of women that Shakespeare placed in prominent roles — Mariana (Adel Querol) rejected by her chosen bridegroom; Isabella determined to be a nun; Juliet (Meg Clarke) consummating her marriage before the ceremony; and Mistress Overdone (Jess Loudon), married nine times and running a brothel. All are convincingly portrayed.

Measure for measure is usually regarded as one of Shakespeare’s darkest comedies, a disturbing study of moral ambiguity, social decay and the corrupt antics of authority figures. Superbly staged at the Bella Vista Farm, it is not a perfect play but it is bravely ambitious and the conflict it presents between individual rights and sexual freedom is still relevant.

What a timely choice of play to celebrate the recent marriage equality laws. Worth a look!