Measure for Measure Play Guide

This play guide is a resource designed to enhance your theatre experience.

In the streets of rowdy Vienna, good times are under siege as Lord Angelo cracks down on vice in the Duke’s absence. When her brother is turned into a scapegoat, Isabella discovers that Angelo’s mercy can be bought—but what will she do if the price is too high? Imaginative ensemble Fiasco Theater brings gorgeous music, their passion for language and brilliant comic storytelling to one of Shakespeare’s most provocative plays.

Vienna, a majority Catholic city in the Holy Roman Empire, from the Duke’s palace to the streets of the city. Early 1600s.

The Duke The leader of Vienna who grants Angelo temporary powers to enforce the city’s harsh laws. Disguises himself as a friar to keep an eye on Angelo.
Angelo A noble of Vienna who oversees the city while the Duke is away.
Claudio A young man of Vienna, brother of Isabella. Arrested on the order of Angelo.
Isabella A young woman determined to become a nun, sister to Claudio.
Friar Peter A monk who helps disguise the Duke as a friar.
Mistress Overdone The owner of a successful brothel.
Mariana Angelo’s former betrothed.
Lucio A man who spends his time at brothels.
Pompey A pimp for Mistress Overdone’s brothel.
Escalus A counselor to the Duke who becomes Angelo’s chief advisor.
Francisca A nun.
Elbow A constable.
Froth A foolish man who spends time in the brothel.

Angelo (Paul L. Coffey) refuses to hear Isabella's (Stephanie Machado) pleas for her brother's life. Photo by Jonathan Roberts.

GLOSSARY

Vienna: A City of Unrest and Upheaval

Shakespeare sets Measure for Measure in 17th-century Vienna, a hotbed of religious and political turmoil.

Vienna was part of the Holy Roman Empire under the absolute monarchy of the Habsburgs, who restored Vienna to Catholicism after a period of Protestantism during the Reformation. During this time, a group of Catholic missionaries called the Jesuits became an influential presence in the city. Staunch supporters of Pope Julius III, the Jesuits rejected any departure from Catholic doctrine. Due to their position as advisors and educators to several Habsburgs, the Jesuits had immense influence in the Empire’s return to Catholicism.

The religious influence extends beyond the setting to the title of the play. Shakespeare took inspiration from a biblical passage from the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with that judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get” (Matthew 7:1-2). The meaning of this passage has been debated throughout the history of Christianity. Some understood this edict to mean that no Christian should have authority over anyone else and that it is only God’s right to judge both spiritually and legally. On the other hand, others believed Christians are to stay out of spiritual affairs but are welcome to weigh in on legal matters.

This question of who has the right to pass judgement on others is key in Measure for Measure. Angelo prepares to put Claudio to death for having sex outside of wedlock, despite his own interest in pursuing Claudio’s sister, Isabella. Isabella, meanwhile, refuses to deviate from her faith, even to save her brother’s life, and she condemns Angelo for his hypocrisy in not showing mercy to Claudio. Underlying this conflict is the city’s complex interplay of church and state; many of the legal standards of Vienna at the time were based in Catholic doctrine. In this case, how does one keep religious and legal codes separate at all?

Such a tumultuous religious environment seems an odd choice of setting for a comedy. While not exactly the magical romp of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure still showcases some of Shakespeare’s classic comedic tropes. Characters wear disguises, the antagonist is tricked into a false romance and bawdy jokes abound. These moments of levity provide a fitting counterpoint to the strict moral codes of Catholic Vienna.

While Measure for Measure is sure to be a show of laughter and trickery, the audience will have the chance to interrogate these serious questions of judgement for themselves. In fact, audience members may find that the quandaries of 17th-century Vienna have much in common with 21st-century America. Today’s polarizing political figures and public controversies allow the themes of the classic play to feel familiar. The comedic storytelling that makes these heavy topics a bit easier to swallow also provides raucous entertainment in any era.