The Merchant of Venice

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:

13 June 2003

Chichester's Venetian themed season continues to go great guns with Gale Edwards' elegant and thoughtful production of The Merchant of Venice.This is not one of those in-your face Merchants, challenging the audience to confront its own prejudices, but rather a dark fantasy set in a fairy tale Rialto, reminiscent, in Alison Chitty's brilliant design conception, of all those black and white, 1930s' Astaire and Rodgers flicks.

Chitty sets the play on an ever-changing series of platforms over a watery stage, suggesting the canals of Venice. Chris Ellis' magical lighting design evokes a soft, dream-like effect, particularly in the romantic scenes, played in a never-land of twilight with twinkling shafts of light reflecting off the water.

Those who want to find anti-Semitism in Shakespeare's dark comedy of loyalty, friendship, ethnic animosity and money, can no doubt do so, in spades, yet Desmond Barrit's chilling portrayal of the Jew, als...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.35.62.168) - 17 September 2003:

With a lot of the same cast as the Seagull (most of them were in 2 of Nathan the Wise/Seagull/Merchant), the Merchant of Venice was another excellent production. In modern dress and dramatically lit, the show was in turns gripping and achingly beautiful. When it finished I just wanted it to start again. Some of the cutting was perhaps a little strange (Bassanio decided on the lead casket extremely quickly!), but that's searching very deep to find fault. One of my favourite Shakespeare's done to a tee. I just wish the triple bill of Nathan the Wise/Marchant/Seagull would transfer in. Ensemble theatre at its best. ...

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