STUART Hibbard’s directing debut for TFT, Shakespeare’s tale of greed, corruption, blackmail and hypocrisy, is an encouraging start.
Sam Goodall’s Duke Vincentio (a confident but at times youthfully rushed performance) leaves the running of the dissolute city of Vienna to his icily moralistic deputy Angelo, who attempts to blackmail the chaste Isabella into sleeping with him in order to save her brother’s life.
Zia Wheeldon’s Isabella was a stand-out portrayal of a woman torn between family loyalty and religious beliefs, dominating the scenes between her and Kevin Fraser’s rather plodding, Uriah Heep-like Angelo.
In a supporting cast, which often resembled a selection of characters from Dickens, Ben O’Shaugnessey’s bawdy, blazered brummie Pompey and Dan Cox’s eccentric Lucio provided the best moments of light relief, with Josh Coates’ disciplined Provost exuding a confident air of quiet authority. Ed Howson
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