Photo Flash: First Look at Ensemble Theatre Company's MEASURE FOR MEASURE
ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY (ETC) presents the first show of its 2019-20 season, a contemporary look at William Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by ETC Artistic Director Jonathan Fox. MEASURE FOR MEASURE begins previews on Thursday, October 3, opens on Saturday, October 5 at 8:00pm, and runs through Sunday, October 20, 2019 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.
BWW Previews: MEASURE FOR MEASURE at ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY
Shakespeare's story of powerful men exploiting their authority seems less outlandish with each modern headline about abuse and harassment, especially in terms of the power differential between the genders. Lily Gibson, who plays Isabella, describes the play as 'almost disturbingly modern,' and Richard Baird, who plays Angelo, calls Measure for Measure an examination of human nature and how power corrupts. 'Particularly in light of the #metoo movement,' he says, 'this play isn't just relevant--it's true.'
BWW Review: ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS at SBCC Theater Group
'One Man, Two Guvnors' is based on Carlo Goldoni's 'Servant of Two masters,' a 1746 commedia dell'arte piece featuring the Truffaldino harlequin as a prospecting errand boy who works for two different men, constantly confusing what tasks he's supposed to be performing for which boss. As the title suggests, 'Guvnors' mirrors this plot, though the action takes place in 1960s Brighton. Francis (Michael Bernard) is a portly loafer who stumbles into the employ of Rosco Crabbe (who is actually Rosco's dizygotic twin, Rachel (Shannon Saleh), in drag). Francis, who suffers from a constant, voracious appetite (and an equally anorexic bank account), takes another gig on the sly: working for Stanley Stubbers (Dillon Yuhasz), Rachel's boyfriend and Rosco's killer.