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:

11 April 2008

Acting at its best is a self-expressionist art; an art that communicates minute expressions of the human condition to the audience. Constrain actors in any way and the result is likely to be a piece of dead theatre. Forcing an actor to stick rigidly to the de-dum-de-dum rhythm of Shakespearean iambic pentameter has such an effect in Tim Carroll's new production of The Merchant of Venice for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Instead of a clear rendition of the plots (Antonio's bond with Shylock to fund Bassanio's wooing of Portia, Antonio's subsequent near-forfeiture of his life in exchange for a pound of flesh, and Portia's legal wranglings that save Antonio and condemn Shylock to forfeiture of his religion), the style of verse-speaking clouds the meaning. Sticking strictly to the rhythm forces the actors to concentrate on technique, to the point where interpersonal relationships on the stage suffer. Unable to communicate emotion through the lines, th...

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Latest User Review

Paul Wallis - 19 August 2008:

I went to see this production with some trepidation. Am not a fan of the play and this production did nothing to change that. Angus Wright played Shylock but never gave a real sense of the man which was a shame. But there were some good performances, notably Jack Laskey's Bassanio and especially the excellent Georgina Rich as Portia. I still don't really like the play but have warmed to it a little thanks to this production...

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