Mesure pour mesure

Shakespeare's unclassifiable play, Mesure pour mesure is at once a tragic comedy brimming with twists and turns and intrigue, a political fable and a psychological thriller that resonates in our 21st century.
In an imaginary Vienna where a certain freedom of morals reigns, the Duke momentarily cedes power to the very puritan Angelo. Religious repression descends on the city. When young Claudio is condemned to death for impregnating his fiancée, his sister Isabella, a novice in a convent, goes to the regent to beg for his pardon. Seduced by the young girl, the regent offers her a deal: her brother's life in exchange for her virginity.
To adapt this complex work, which is permeated by moral and social questions that are still burning - abusive political power, male domination, religious extremism - the young and talented Lucile Lacaze has opted for simplicity. She has tightened Shakespeare's text, turned it into a skilful score for four performers, and imagined a light, playful scenic style, with a minimalist set reminiscent of a gymnasium. The relevance of this approach is combined with the quality of the actors and actresses. With a contemporary eye, committed but not devoid of humor, she points out the complexity of the traps in which her characters are caught, and sheds light on the play in a powerful way.