It’s kinky, bawdy, and lewd, but Measure for Pleasure—Woolly Mammoth Theater’s new and naughty Restoration comedy—isn’t just for pervs.
Contemporary playwright, David Grimm, artfully blends philosophy with fallacio, wit with dirty talk, and orgies with true love. Sir Peter Lustforth (Doug Brown) is an aging hornball who leads a sex club and has tired of fulfilling the sexual demands of his repellent wife, Lady Vanity (Jennifer Mendenhall). Lustforth decides to chase the hand and chastity of young Hermoine Goode (Kimberly Gilbert)—whose virginity is closely guarded by her puritanical prude of an aunt, Dame Stickle (Kimberly Scharf). But Hermoine loves Dick—Captain Dick Dashwood (Michael Gabriel Goodfriend) that is—a habitual playboy who reforms and guises himself as Italian music teacher, Don Fidelio to win the trust and approval of his dear Hermoine. The plot thickens after Don Fidelio is seduced by ex-prostitute and cross-dressing chambermaid, Molly Tawdry (Andrew Honeycutt)–igniting the jealousy of Molly’s gay lover and fellow servant, Will Blunt (Joel Rueben Ganz).
Each actor brilliantly humps, moans, and wails. Jokes are impeccably delivered with a saucy punch. Gilbert brilliantly waddles in heels as she hilariously whines, swoons, and rhymes her way through the script. Ganz is a fabulous pink fop and Mendenhall plays a great drunk. There isn’t a single weak link amongst the bold and uber-talented cast.
Leather, platforms, dildos, and strap-ons serve as cheeky costume accessories. Cleavage busts out of girdles. Chest hair grows wild. Meanwhile, converse sneakers and fluorescent powdered wigs visually highlight the show’s modern twist.
For the most part, Measure for Pleasure is as playfully lighthearted as it sounds—yet Grimm inserts moments of thoughtful digressions with Blunt’s insights on happiness and Lady Vanity’s honest confessions on marriage. Nonetheless, refined raunchiness is what Restoration comedies were all about and this period piece doesn’t stray too far from its era’s randy theme.
The show’s fatal flaw is its own interminable length. For all its wordplay and wit, Measure for Pleasure glues your tongue to your cheek for almost three hours. Either way, you might blush, gag, sigh, or giggle—but the last thing you’ll do is get bored.
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“Measure for Pleasure” plays @ Woolly Mammoth till June 29th.
click here for more details: http://www.woollymammoth.net/
