Measure for Measure - Shakespeare's Globe

Measure for Measure was the last thing I saw at the Globe way back in 2004. I really wanted to see it as it was Mark Rylance's final season as actor as well as artistic director and I saw it in its last few days. It was totally magical and Rylance utterly magnetic.

The reviews at the time;

"Every so often a play comes along that is spot-on in artistic judgement and execution of character.  Measure for Measure may lack the big-name clout of Romeo and Juliet or Much Ado About Nothing and while it is something of a star vehicle for Mark Rylance in his role as the white-faced Duke, this enjoyable version is undoubtedly the hit of this Season of Star-Crossed Lovers. It greatly benefits from the director's light touch and careful reading of the text, so that the 2¾ hours fly by."

"The characteristic Globe production qualities are very much in evidence with sumptuous costumes exemplified by that of Colin Hurley's rascally Lucio, a spectacular puff of mustard and peach! Designer, Jenny Tiramani also goes overboard on hangings with tapestries and, at the finale, banners and flags."

"Throw in some pleasing entr'acte dance and a five-member band that includes curtal, sackbut, bagpipes, hautboy, Jew's harps and some excellent solo work from Emilia Benjamin on lyra viol, and one could have been transported back to the days of the first Queen Elizabeth."

"The pace rarely flags as Vienna almost comes to ruin at the hands of Liam Brennan's straight-backed, icy Puritan Angelo, a self-described tyrant cruel enough to draw hisses from the audience and the plotting is leavened by much fun especially from Peter Shorey playing Mistress Overdone as a panto dame and John Dougall's cocky Pompey."

Sophie Thompson and Liam Brennan

Mark Rylance really dominates in his dual role as the Duke and the Friar and often has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand.  Anyone who sees this wonderful production should consider them selves lucky to do so.