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Peer Reviews Louisville's
Shakespeare Tradition: Reviewed by Julia Leist Entire contents are copyright © 2007 Julia Leist. All rights reserved.
Forty-seven years of free Shakespeare in Central Park is quite the achievement. A testament to the value our community places on the performing arts. And as I sit on the wooden park bench just at the apron of the amphitheatre on opening day of the 2007 Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, I wonder, "What is it that keeps people coming back, year after year?" Sure, a tradition of family-friendly entertainment is enticing, as is the freedom to enjoy cheese and crackers and a bottle of wine under the canopy of Central Park's oak and maple trees. But what is it that makes this festival "common knowledge" amongst native Louisvillians? 'Tis the Shakespeare, of course! As Act I of Measure for Measure (one of Shakespeare's earliest and most problematic plays) begins, we learn of Vincentio, the Duke of Vienna, taking leave and imparting the whole of his authority upon Angelo, a strict and over-zealous deputy. When Angelo condemns Claudio to death for impregnating young Juliet, Isabella (Claudio's sister) is sent for at the nunnery to return to Vienna to plead, beg and perhaps barter to secure her young brother's sweet yet promiscuous life. Angelo promises to release the captive if, and only if, Isabella will submit to him. Isabella is caught somewhere between a rock and, well, her chastity. "Some rise by sin," she proclaims to Claudio, "and some fall by virtue." Meanwhile, the ever-trusting Duke, disguised as a monk, remains in Vienna to keep his eye on Angelo. Upon learning of Angelo's tyranny and the warrant on poor Claudio's life, Vincentio, like Superman in his habit, swoops in to set all right. Sounds like classic Shakespeare. The hero, the villain, and the town clown. Oh, did I not mention Lucio? He, who considers himself a villain in his own right, drunkenly jump-starts the plot in motion and remains the consistent comic relief throughout. Right until the very end when ... nope, sorry, I can't give too much away. What I can tell you is of the stellar performances given by Jeff Grafton (Lucio) and Elizabeth Helitzer (Isabella). Mr. Grafton shrills and thrills the audience with multiple pelvic thrusts (shrill) and contagious often-guffawing giggles (thrill). Ms. Helitzer all at once displays the various sides of Isabella; her internal turmoil is painted on her face. Her smart, sassy, genuine portrayal gives the character a true sense of heroism. What keeps audience attendance and attention high are these two singularly powerhouse performances. Rounding out the cast is a group of talented actors, the majority of whom are making their first appearance on the Central Park stage, bringing to the festival a freshness and sense of genuine excitement. But as the Bard so poignantly states in that other play he wrote, "The play's the thing." Measure for Measure is justifiably contested among the literary elite. Is a comedy? Is it a drama? Trying to plug this particular play into the genre equation leaves us with an undefined answer. All the traditional motifs are included -- ill-fated lovers, mistaken identities, and the ever-present risk of premature death. Shakespeare highlights a variety of issues plaguing his Renaissance counterparts as well as modern society -- the abuse of power, sexism and religious extremism. But are any such conflicts resolved in Measure for Measure, as the title may suggest? Tensions build and interest peaks, and a very young Shakespeare calls upon the use of a "deus ex machina" to sweep clean the mistakes of the ever-flawed, ever-human characters. Is this a cop-out or just an example of a still-learning Shakespeare? As the sun sets and the stage lights cast blue and red beams across the actors' faces, it is easy to accept the minor flaws of an artist searching for his voice and settle into a performance of true worth and measure. And as the summer heat encroaches more than it already has, consider the Louisville Shakespeare tradition. It's more than a picnic; it's actually a really enjoyable play. Shakespeare's Measure for Measure runs from now until the 15th of July at the historic Central Park in Old Louisville. Check Shakespeare in Central Park's website at www.kyshakes.org for more detailed information concerning performance times and other special events.
ALL PERFORMANCES ARE FREE OF CHARGE June 21 - July 15, 2007 Posted June 26, 2007
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