ON a sweltering opening night, an all-female cast worked hard to bring this tale of hypocrisy, double-dealing and moral dilemma into a contemporary setting, with just a few movable clothes rails for the staging.
Set in an immoral and corrupt Vienna, Deputy Angelo (Jane Swindells, all ice and fire in black leather) is charged with enforcing the city’s lax laws but ends up blackmailing the chaste Isabella, a novice nun (fresh and convincing Daisy Dawes) to sleep with him.
His comeuppance is brought about by the Duke (Megan Green) who, disguised as a friar, prevents the execution of Isabella’s brother Claudio (Jane Swindells doubling as a kind of alter ego?) who has got his fiancée pregnant.
Various disreputable citizens are brought to justice by the duke on his return, particularly Sue Dawes’ delightfully zany Lucio, and praise too for Ingrid Corrigan, who imbued elder statesman Escalus with particular gravitas.
ED HOWSON
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