Word: bassanio
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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THIS MERCHANT OF VENICE is prime evidence for the view that Shakespeare should be produced on stage as a necessary adjunct to classroom study. The text appears to be a mare's nest of incompatible themes and emotional effections, careening from Shylock's tragedy to Bassanio's comedy to Antonio's romance. But in a good production--and the Loeb mainstage production is a very good production indeed--these problems are reconciled in performance...
...quality of the supporting cast was generally high. Portia made effective transitions from sharptongued young woman to romantic lover to merciful judge, though her voice sometimes took on too keen an edge to act as a genuine agent of reconciliation. Antonio (Peter Henderson) was properly grave and honorable; Bassanio (Jeffrey Rubin) was in higher spirits but equally good. Both played straight men, but the success of the play depended on them; unless we are made to feel that they are men of higher moral value than Shylock the play is a heap of incoherence. I would also single...
...shop) and "Gioielleria" (jeweller's shop) were intended. Much more important, was the inexplicable omission--from a production which admirably omits little else--of Portia's song "Tell me where is fancy bred..." This song is not an ornamental time-waster but an essential piece of narrative; it enables Bassanio to choose the right casket (the one made of lead) by listening to the rhyme-words--"bred," "head," "nourished." Perhaps Portia couldn't sing...