[rating=5] How do you get non-Shakespeare fans to appreciate the stories that his works tell? You take them to new heights and add something modern to the actual play. Tonight, I bore witness to a whole new look to Shakespeare’s classic “Measure for Measure” a play that deals with hypocrisy, self-righteousness and racial identity. This slick version of the play at Chicago Shakespeare on Navy Pier is directed by Henry Godinez ( who many know from The Goodman Theatre), a native of Cuba, who has brought this storyline to his homeland during the 1950’s.
It is the ideals that Castor claimed he would rid Cuba of that Godinez transformed from the original to a more modern look. Black Cubans and women were not as lucky as those men with brown skin. Yes, even during a revolution, racism survived, and perhaps even prospered. FYI- the production begins with a ten minute prologue that takes us into a club where we see the lifestyle of the people that are “in” over those that are “out”. When the play begins we first see that the power takes the white or light skin man over the black one. One can see that the characters in this play, if examined closely, can show that when Castro and his men took over Cuba, they were of a similar nature of being power hungry and taking what they felt was theirs to take.
The cast of players that Godinez has assembled is dynamite with Kevin Gudahl as the Duke of Havana ( who also plays as a fake Friar), Adam Poss as Angelo who became his deputy ( and abused his power), Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel as Isabel who was abused and only wanted to help her brother be released from prison, Andre’s Enriquez as Claudio, Isabel’s brother, Kierra Bunch, Kidany Camilo, Alejandra Escalante ( as Angelo’s wife),Ajax Dontavius (replacing Debo Balogun), Joe Foust ( in several roles), Elizabeth Ledo ( who also played several roles), Gregory Linington as Lucio, Sandor Menendez, Felicia Oduh, Ana Santos, Lanise Antoine Shelley, and Robert Schleifer ( an amazing actor who illustrates how a deaf actor can fit into a major role). Each character is important to the story line as we see just how corrupt a city can become when the wrong person is put in charge..
We are privy to all of the trickery that takes place in order for the truth to win out and it is masterfully done with music, comedy and a delightful way of retelling the story. The modern setting helps a great deal as does the music and the projections of Cuba making it feel more realistic. As someone who was around during this period, I felt the power of the story as told by Godinez and company. The projections/set design by Rasean Davonte Johnson were tremendous. This is a thrust stage that doesn’t truly allow for scenery, but the projections and the lighting (Maria-Christina Fuste) helped make it feel as if we had taken down the fourth wall and were peeking at life, happening during this period. Raquel Adorno’s costumes were in vogue with the times and the sound (Andre Pluess) and the music composition (Jorge Amado Molina and Orbert Davis) were very Latin in beat. 
One can sense what must have been going on in Havana during the revolution from this production and listening to the lady behind me who said “I wish all Shakespeare’s works were as easy to follow as this”, made me think how clever Chicago Shakespeare has become. They have used The Beatles music to do one of the Bard’s works and now, the Cuban Resolution. Congratulations to this cast and in particular Henry Godinez for taking this one.
“Measure for Measure” will continue thru November 27th with performances as follows:
Wednesdays 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Thursdays 7:30 p.m.
Fridays 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sundays 2 p.m.
Price: $35-$92
Show Type: Drama
Box Office: 312-595-5600
The theater is the Courtyard ( the original) located at 800 East Grand Avenue at Navy Pier. Parking is discounted by bringing your parking ticket to the box office for stamping.
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Measure for Measure”.
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