With THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, the Bard provides us with a rich cavalcade of characters to spend a few hours with.
The tale itself is typical Shakespeare fare with a dense, multi-layered storyline which sees his characters intently pursue their heart’s desires, in plain clothing or in disguise,
The plot revolves around a loan that Jewish moneylender Shylock, the merchant of Venice of the title, gives to Antonio, which is not paid back within the due time frame. It is then that Shylock demands his pound of flesh…
Along with Taming Of The Shrew and its sexist undertones, this Shakespeare play is seen as politically incorrect with its racist feel. Director Anne-Louise Sarks has made the play palatable for contemporary audiences by depicting Shylock as a vilified outsider whom the society of the day condemns.
The ever versatile and talented Mitchell Butel very much looked the part of Shylock. His Shylock is such an uncompromising figure for much of the fall which gives his fall from power added poignancy. At the play’s end, we see him stripped of his beloved religion, his head bowed, the very portrait of a broken man.
Felicity McKay is very watchable as Shylock’s wilful daughter Jessica who doesn’t like her father’s mean spirited ways, and is quick to start making her own way in life.
Damien Strouthos comes across well as Bassanio, a young gentlemen of Venice who has squandered all of his fortune and seeks financial assistance from his friend, respected merchant Antonio’s, to help woo Portia.
Jo Turner plays Antonio, and Jessica Tovey was a shining presence as Portia, one of Shakespeare’s most loved female characters. Catherine Davies is vivacious as Portia’s high spirited lady in waiting and verbal sparring partner.
Anthony Taufa is well cast as Bassanio’s loquacious friend, Gratiano, as is Jacob Warner as the quick witted Launcelot who starts the play as Shylock’s servant but soon switches allegiances to Bassanio’s clan.
Shiv Palekar plays Lorenzo, another of Bassanio’s friends, as well as playing the Prince of Morocco, another suitor for Portia’s hand.
Eugene Gilfedder impressively plays three roles; two royal figures, the Duke Of Venice and the Prince Of Arragon, and the wealthy Venetian, Tubal.
Michael Hankin’s set effectively concentrates, and makes intimate the drama by having the main cast on stage for much of the action. They are seated, on benches on either side of the stage, near to clothes/change racks, until they next enter the fray.
Hankin’s costumes are stylish modern dress and contribute to conveying the characters’ different personalities as well as the bourgeois society in which they circulated.
The Playhouse is the final stop in Bell Shakespeare’s national tour which commenced at the Orange Civic Theatre on the 7th July.
Recommended, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is playing at the Sydney Opera House until the 26th November.
https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/whats-on/the-merchant-of-venice/