Farcical twist mars Shakespeare

Even in an old-church-turned-local-theater, with amateur actors and actresses and uncomfortable seats that look a little bare without their hymnal racks, Shakespeare can shine through.  He does shine quite often in the Eastside Theater production of "Measure for Measure," but not quite as brightly as he should.

"Measure for Measure" is a comedy about a good man turned bad by sudden power.  The theater bills his situation as relevant by putting drawings of Humphrey, Nixon and Wallace in the program, but they take most of the significance out of the play by turning it into a farce.

Lines and characters are milked for every possible laugh and then one more for good measure.  The kind of pratfalls and character traits that went over big in high schools get even bigger laughs.  The characters turn into caricatures under the strain.

Two performances make the play worth seeing. Alan Peabody is lovable as the Duke of Vienna and Cynthia Wells is beautiful as Isabella.  Just as you become convinced that the reason you aren't following everything is that you can't cope with Shakespeare's Elizabethan English, Isabella will come through loud and clear.  She's worthy of a role at the Guthrie.

But the Eastside is a local theater and can't count on talent like that.  Most of the actors are too obviously amateur.  If you don't expect the Guthrie you can enjoy the Eastside, though the $2.50 price for student tickets is steep.  Even so, it's a welcome change from, "Let's go downtown and see a show."

The play will be showing Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until November 10.  Tickets are available at Dayton's or at the Eastside ticket office (226-0625).