Measure for Measure is not the Bard’s best comedy.

Indeed, its dark theme and convoluted resolution make it more of a “problem play”, and the laughable proposal of marriage at the end suggests, perhaps, that another, less talented, writer was involved after Shakespeare’s death.

Set in a rather austere 19th century Vienna – a place of total moral and social degeneration – the Duke disappears, leaving his puritanical but hypocritical deputy Angelo in charge.

Angelo begins by sentencing Claudio to death for getting his girlfriend pregnant, but promises to pardon him if his sister, the virginal Isabella, will sleep with him – a promise he attempts to break.

Alistair McGowan, yet another comedy star making the transition to the world of classical theatre, is best when disguised as a meddlesome friar and develops the humorous aspects quite well, though as the Duke he seems to lack a little authority.

As the treacherous Angelo, Jason Merrells could be a little more evangelical, but has the excellent Clifford Rose as Escalus to temper his repressive regime.

Emma Lowndes is the feisty Isabella who fights to preserve her honour and reputation and Deirdre Mullins’ Mariana is the woman who finally tricks Angelo into marriage.

There’s a lot of gallows humour as the legal officials decide which prisoner’s head will be served on a plate, and Patrick Kennedy shows superb comic timing as the rascally Lucio, whose loose tongue nearly gets him into serious trouble.

Measure for Measure runs until Saturday at the Grand Theatre, in Lichfield Street.

By Jerald Smith.

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