Measure for Measure (The Public Theater) by William Shakespeare Created and performed by Elevator Repair Service #ERSM4M

In the first minutes of this madcap take on Shakespeare’s classic about love, lust, appearances vs. reality and the hypocrisy of humans, especially those in power, I was slightly vertiginous.  A love of the language of Shakespeare was butting up, hard, against this frantically paced, brilliantly staged rendering in which the text was often scrolled along the back wall.  All the better to read, my dear, when the vocal gymnastics of the cast rendered the words too quick to catch.

I soon settled into the rhythm of the production and was at liberty to enjoy the absolutely splendid performances.  Scott Shepherd is suave and soigne as The Duke and slyly funny when disguised as The Friar.  As Angelo, Pete Simpson is nothing short of astonishing.  Smarmy and slick as an oil spill, yet charming and hard to resist.  Mr. Simpson plays this part with a physicality that makes his body seem boneless and a speaking speed which makes his tongue equally as acrobatic. Maggie Hoffman shines as The Provost and Rinne Groff and Greig Sargeant as siblings, Isabella and Claudio, share a fascinating scene in which the tempo of the language is thrown into reverse and slowed to a creative crawl. As Lucio, Mike Iveson clowns with the speed and vocal virtuosity of a seasoned used-car salesman.

No matter the yardstick you use, this Measure deserves to be seen, heard and enjoyed.