Measure For Measure...Character Explanation

The following is the list of characters we highlighted in the filming of Measure by Measure and the actors who portrayed them are listed in parenthesis.  You will also find a few ideas of what to watch for when viewing our movie tomorrow.


The Duke (Becky)

• an overall good and virtuous man who rules his land with soft hand.  he believes that there is too much unlawful sex happening, but doesn't know how to handle enforcing the law so he enlists Angelo's help to do the dirty work.  The Duke spends most of his time in disguise in order to keep tabs on how things are progressing along.

Isabella (Jamie)

• Essentially the main character of the play.  A chaste young woman who is faced with a rather difficult decision of whether to help her brother who has been charged with fornication.  She starts off wanting to be a nun in the play and doesn't agree with her brother's actions, but loves him nonetheless.

Claudio (Roberto)

• Brother of Isabella and sentenced to death by Angelo for getting Juliet pregnant.  Even though he planned on marrying her and was engaged by a common law agreement, but they did the "deed" before a legal marriage.

Lord Angelo (Roberto)

• the villain!  He rules with a strict hand and doesn't care who he hurts.  However, he is a hypocrite.  he gives Isabella a rather unfair ultimatum if she wants to save her brother, but he doesn't hold up his end of the bargain.  Essentially Angelo is a creepy critter.

Mariana (Amanda)

• Previously engaged to Angelo, but he called it off when the dowry was lost at shipwreck.

Mistress Overdone (Jamie)

• runs a brothel in Vienna.  Reports the news that unlawful sex has been outlawed.

**Since multiple people had to play multiple parts we dressed in our best "school of night" attire and added props to distinguish each character.


Watch for:

• a character in disguise
• the bed trick
• an unfair judge
• 2 different movies inspired 2 different scenes towards the end of the play...can you tell which movies?