No half measure

Buy photos » Jodie McNee (Isabella) and disguised Duke (Ray Coulthard). (s)

Measure For Measure

RSC Swan Theatre

CARRY on regardless is the outcome of this Measure For Measure.

One of Shakespeare's so-called 'problem' plays, much is often conveyed in the handling of the happy yet awkward ending of this comedy. How for instance will novice nun Isabella react to the Duke's marriage proposal? Some productions finish with no reaction whatsoever which in itself can say much. Here she looks to the heavens before willingly accepting.

A conventional happy ending it appears with the sin of the city washed clean from all. Think again! The entire cast burst into a lascivious dance routine proving there's plenty of sex left in this city, and it's down to business as usual, with everybody at it.

Roxana Silbert makes a strong debut in an RSC director's chair.

The audience could be forgiven for thinking they were about to witness Marat/Sade 2 when plunged into a sado-masochistic Viennese brothel from the off, but any such fears are soon allayed.

On a simple functional set, Silbert lets a fine cast do the talking for this production - the likes of Ray Coulthard's corset-clad conjuring Duke; Geoffrey Beevers all-knowing Escalus, and Joseph Kloska's likeable rogue Pompey, with Paul Chahidi's Lucio stealing the lion's share of the laughs, followed by Daniel Stewart's 'I'm not dying today' Barnardine.

At the heart of the play is the power struggle between Angelo and Isabella. And the sparks do fly, as they should, between Jamie Ballard's Bondesque black-clad villain Angelo and Jodie McNee's impassioned almost to the point of crazy Isabella.

A couple of on-the-night verse speaking hiccups aside, there are no problems with this excellent production.

Measure For Measure runs until March 10. Visit www.rsc.org.uk for details.