Word: shylock
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Antonio secures a bond for 3000 ducats from the Jew Shylock, his nemesis, (David Javerbaum), and promises as collateral a pound of his own flesh if he should forfeit the bond. When Antonio's ships sink at sea, Antonio must forfeit the bond and lose his pound of flesh by Shylock's hand...
Siegler sets this play in modern-day Venice. The actors wear contemporary dress, and cordless telephones replace the messengers in Shakespeare's script. The set is simple, with a table and three chairs serving as a cafe, a chair set aside as part of Shylock's house and a table upon which sit three treasure chests...
...point of parody. Nye is effective in the role of the Prince and plays the part with more than a touch of contempt for Portia, essentially telling her that she would be lucky to have him. Nye is actually more memorable in his other role as Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock's Falstaffian servant...
...hatred between Antonio and Shylock is the conflict which fuels the plot of The Merchant of Venice. Consumed by revenge, Shylock demands that he receive Antonio's flesh for his bond. Javerbaum delivers one of Shakespeare's most famous speeches--"If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh?". Unfortunately, this monologue, while spoken adequately enough by Javerbaum, lacks the emotion and disgust for Antonio and the Christian world which such a powerful speech requires...
Javerbaum redeems himself during those scenes in which Shylock is left humiliated by Portia and Antonio, forced to yield all of his possessions, and made to renounce his religion. In these moments Javerbaum raises his performance to the level of Shakespeare's writing, evoking intense pity as he leaves the stage a broken...