MEASURE FOR MEASURE, Salt Lake Shakespeare, Babcock Theatre, University of Utah (581-7100 or 355-2787). Running time: two hours, five minutes (one intermission).
Politicians and sex scandals — not ripped from today's tabloids but penned nearly four centuries ago — are the focus of this Shakespearean drama.
Scaled down by Salt Lake Shakespeare for the intimate Babcock stage, the play's vaudeville comedy has been carefully trimmed by director Kyle Lewis and his colleagues to cut right to the substance of the plot — a scathing look at hypocrisy and deceit in high places.
The small cast — nearly half of what most "Measure for Measure" productions call for — delivers some strong performances, especially those in the major roles.
Jesse Harward is perfectly cast as Angelo, a seemingly virtuous regent for the Duke of Vienna but who flaunts the very laws he is pretending to uphold.
Heidi Hertford gives a heartfelt performance as Isabella, a young postulant who becomes the object of Angelo's illicit lust when she decides to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save her brother from being executed.
Her brother, Claudio (Abraham M. Adams), is sentenced to die because Juliet (Jamie Greenland) is pregnant with his child.
While much of the comic relief has been trimmed out, Whit Hertford more than takes up the slack in the role of Lucio, a lewd, playful rogue and close friend of Claudio.
Cory Tallman, as Duke Vincentio — who disguises himself as a friar to secretly monitor the corruption in his hometown — starts off rather bland but comes into his own during the second half of the production, when he metes out his own style of justice.
Other players include Marianna Wood as Mariana, a young maiden jilted by Angelo five years before and who takes part in his comeuppance; Rob Shand as the Provost, Hugh Hanson as Friar Peter; and Tommie St. Cyr as Escalus, an adviser to the Duke.
Joe Payne's multitextured scenery and moody musical underscoring are big pluses for this low-budget production.
Megan Crivello's costuming, Scott Sizemore's dramatic lighting and J. Killian's sound designs also contribute considerably to the overall success of the production.
Salt Lake Shakespeare — now under new management since the founders have moved on — is in highly capable hands.
Sensitivity rating: Some slightly bawdy material not suitable for younger audiences.
E-mail: ivan@desnews.com