Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...From time to time, Chicago theater spins out a production where the director clearly has come up with an idea for every single moment. This is one of those shows. And, rarer still, Godinez’s “Measure for Measure” is a Shakespearean production with a heavy concept that works. Certainly, that means the heavily chopped text has to take a secondary position, but that’s fine with me when the overarching modern storytelling is this clear, potent and enveloping."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...At lights up in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s immersive, vibrant “Measure for Measure,” we’re in a raucous, glamorously seedy Havana nightclub. The place is La Trucha, a tropical stand-in for the Vienna, Italy, bawdy house that plays a crucial role in Shakespeare’s drama about sexual coercion, hypocrisy and tyranny. The time is 1952, the year Fidel Castro would come to power on the island nation roughly 90 miles southwest of the tip of Florida."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...Unlike other Shakespearean comedies and even other “problem plays” like All’s Well That Ends Well, nothing really ends well for anyone in Measure for Measure (except maybe Claudio and Julietta). And perhaps that’s one reason setting it in Cuba around the time of the revolution is such an inspired choice by Godinez (well, that and the fact that it allows for fantastic Latin jazz under the direction of legendary Chicago trumpeter Orbert Davis)."
Chicago On the Aisle - Recommended
"...CST’s aggressively distilled “Measure for Measure” is a light version that brings to mind the Metropolitan Opera’s condensed, English-language version of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” readily consumable by the whole family. (Not here, though.) In the case of “Measure for Measure,” there’s an argument for boiling it down to essential lines and action. There’s probably an argument for not doing the play at all, but at least this treatment directed by Henry Godinez skips along at a good clip, extracting lively theater from a rather ponderous “lesson” text."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Henry Godinez's stirring, original and re-imagined production of one of Shakespeare's more difficult plays, has incorporated so much of his heritage and personal experience to the story. As a young man growing up in Cuba he witnessed firsthand the prejudice rampant in his homeland and Mr. Godinez has strived to bring this, plus the element of hypocrisy, to Shakespeare's work. The director has shown, throughout the play, the intoxication that power offers through both Angelo and the Duke, as well as with several of the supporting characters. He's also used the Bard's play to support the Me Too Movement with a unique voice. And he's incorporated music and comedy to contrast with the darker, more dramatic plot elements that appear later in the play. In all, this is one fascinating and enthralling version of Shakespeare, filled with contemporary ideas, that will certainly appeal to everyone."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...Godinez masterfully paces this tight with layers of special touches. Traditional “Measure for Measure” productions come in at two hours and thirty minutes with an intermission. Godinez’s production is a succinct 140 minutes with no intermission. Dialogue has been trimmed significantly without losing any of the story. While Godinez reduces the Shakespearean verse, he adds multiple stylistic flair."
Third Coast Review - Recommended
"...Director Henry Godinez sets up his Havana-set Measure for Measure with a colorful nightclub scene, including singers and chorus girls, and closes it with a nod to the Cuban revolution in the air. But the play is still Measure for Measure and there are good reasons why it's considered one of Shakespeare's problem plays. The director has trimmed the usual 2.5 hour running time considerably, so nuances of the complex drama may slip by. But overall, Godinez's direction and Chicago Shakespeare's vibrant staging make for a rewarding evening of theater."
MaraTapp.org - Highly Recommended
"...Measure for Measure, now in a condensed but arresting and revealing production at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, is proof for any doubters of the genius of the Bard and the reason his plays remain relevant. Director Henry Godinez sets his version in 1950s Cuba as Fidel Castro is coming to power. The move from Vienna works well, and Godinez’ vision and direction allow us to see just how prescient Shakespeare was about sexism, sexual abuse, power imbalances in gender relationships, the danger of dogma."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...For those who are Shakespeare fans but aren’t in the mood for one of his three hour dramas or history plays, this 100-minute Measure for Measure might be the one for you. It would also be a good fit for those who like classics with a modern tie in them. "
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Everywhere you turn in “Measure” there is a standout performance. Gonzalez-Cadel’s heart-wrenching portrayal of Isabel and Adam Poss’ infuriating Angelo are not to be missed. While the emotional elements of this production may sound as if this production is all heft, comedic moments are just as prevalent. With comedic folks like Elizabeth Ledo, Gregory Linington and Joe Foust around, your tears may move between joy and despair. And the always-empathetic Robert Schleifer and Kidany Camilo remind us that humanity is a complicated, lifelong affliction."
