Drama springs into the season with Shakespeare

DMC Drama Springing into the season with Shakespeare 

Kyrstin Garcia (left), drama major and stage manager, and Emily Sanchez, drama amor and assistant director, give notes to the cast of “Measure for Measure” to ensure they all hit their marks.

A young woman in her adolescence has many decisions to make. What are her interests? Her favorite artist? Who are her friends? Where does she hang out and what should she wear? She is torn between identifying herself and letting others do it for her. 

The simplicities of a developing girl are fragile, until the day her naivety is exposed. The Del Mar College drama program will explore some of these modern and relevant issues by introducing a 400-year-old piece by William Shakespeare titled “Measure for Measure.” 

The plot of the upcoming play is based in Vienna, where Isabella, a novice nun, appeals to Angelo, a deputy who is temporarily put in charge of the state by the duke. Angelo immediately enforces a law prohibiting sex outside of marriage, sentencing Isabella’s brother, Claudio, to death for sleeping with Juliet, Claudio’s now-pregnant fiancée. The supposedly pure Angelo demands that Isabella sleep with him to save her brother Claudio from his sentence. Isabella now struggles between virtue and rescuing her brother from the promiscuous tyrant. 

In this written comedy, Shakespeare makes light of the traditional patriarchy where women often deal with a masculine authority.

“Other Shakespeare titles often rely on single leading roles to carry the play — think “Hamlet,” “Richard lll” or “Henry IV,” any play with the character’s name as the title. “Measure for Measure” is a good ensemble piece, providing a large cast with quality roles,” said Carl Yowell, drama professor. “Shakespeare often has female characters on the periphery of the plot. In “Measure for Measure” female characters are central to the story.” 

Yowell said the drama program chooses to make each production unique. “Measure for Measure” will feature a topic that isn’t commonly expressed — aiming for an unrestrained perspective while delivering humor to the audience. 

“We strive to expose students to a variety of genres and styles,” Yowell said. 

The spring production runs at 7:30 p.m. March 1-2 and March 7-9, with a show at noon March 6 specifically for high school students. 

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