The Merchant of Venice
From: Friday, 30th June 2006
To: Saturday, 19 August 2006
Our Review: 
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Synopsis
Written around 1596 and the first Shakespeare to be preformed professionally in America (New York, 1752). A man needs money to pursue a rich heiress (Portia) and approaches his friend Antonio - but unable to lend it Antonio approaches the Jewish moneylender Shylock. Shylock hates Antonio because of his Christian contempt for usury so offers a contract wherebty if the money is not repaid he may take a pound of flesh instead. The quality of mercy is not strained as Shylock is foiled out of his pound of flesh by Portia dressed as a man. A dark comedy exploring greed and racism.
Our Review:
17 July 2006
The ancient stones of Oxford Castle, standing in for the palazzos and courts of Venice, provide an imposing backdrop, all the more fitting for this play with its themes of justice and debating the letter of the law, because it was once a prison.
But the action unfolding on designer Sara Perk’s outdoor stage and catwalk beneath the walls is more concerned with funk than philosophy. Punctuated with appropriate pop anthems, it is set firmly in the present. The culture is chav - Kezia Burrows’ Portia and Amanda Haberland’s Nerissa, in designer shades, tiny shorts and tight leggings and dripping with bling, easily outdo footballers’ wives.
Gavin Molloy’s Antonio is a hippy druggy to Antony Eden’s designer-clad Bassanio. Pepe Balderrama’s Gratiano is a track-suited wide boy, and Paul Shelford’s bottle-blonde Lorenzo sports a Beckhamesque skirt. Shylock himself (Simon Poole) is an almost youthful sharp-suited wheeler dealer in the Minder mode.
The TV...
Creative
Shakespeare (Author)
Creation Theatre Company (Company)
Gari Jones (Director)
Sara Perks (Design)
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