Measure for Measure

Capping off their highly successful 2012 Season, The Porters of Hellsgate are proud to announce their next production, Shakespeare’s dark comedy, Measure for Measure–the Bard’s deft exploration of the arrogance of power. Setting the production in 1890’s Vienna, the Porters intend to take a hard look at the way we often confuse lust with love, goodness with self-righteousness, and power with purpose. In a play whose characters include dukes and murderers, politicians and pimps, nuns and whores, spotting the worst sinner may be more difficult than it seems.

Duke Vincentio transfers power of Vienna to his deputy Angelo, whom he charges to implement a strict moral code in his absence (purporting to leave on business). The Duke, however, disguises himself as a friar to see how Angelo fares in his new seat of power (and fare well, he does not). When the Duke overhears that Angelo has insisted that a young nun give him her virginity in exchange for her brother’s life, he must reclaim his seat and set things right.