The Merchant of Venice. To 26 July.
Newbury/Tour.
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
by William Shakespeare.
Propeller Theatre company, in association with The Watermill Theatre and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.
Watermill Theatre in rep with A Midsummer Night's Dream To 2 May
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm except 2 May 1.20pm & 6.30pm.
Runs 2hr 25min One interval.
then tour to 26 July 2009.
TICKETS: 01635 46044.
www.watermill.org.uk (Watermill).
Review Mark Courtice 19 March 2009.
Jail House Merchant suggests crime can pay dividends.
Edward Hall's company Propeller, like Shakespeare’s, performs with an all male cast. However the women aren’t played by boys, but by men, treating the female characters as an acting job not a drag act.
In the case of The Merchant of Venice this happens in a clanging, sweaty jail. It makes a claustrophobic world, where violence can break out with terrifying speed, where gangs sort things out with a fight or gouging. The jail is the stage, but also Venice.
The play is one of those that throws up major problems for a modern audience. The goodies are venture capitalists, the baddie a victim of their racist double-dealing. The clever thing about the prison setting is that these considerations are almost irrelevant in this confined pressure-cooker world. Men do what they must and the consequences will flow come what may.
It's only when the action loosens up and moves to Portia’s home in Belmont that things open up. The fun of the suitors choosing the right casket to win her hand, and the later comedy when Bassiano has to admit to giving up his wedding ring to the brilliant young lawyer, feels like a different sort of play – almost knockabout farce.
The performances are strong in depth. Bob Barrett is terrifically twisty as Antonio, too good to be true, desperate about losing Bassiano, and utterly unyielding in his hatred for Shylock.
Richard Clothier invests Shylock with a fine world-weary presence, playing out his part in a struggle which is going to go on for generations. But he’s also a man like any other - without strange accents, or different uniforms. His need to best Antonio is a struggle for power between two guys banged up in the same jail.
Many of the cast are young and very talented. Kelsey Brook is especially good as Portia, revelling in the triple powers of brains, money and beauty that she can bring to bear on any problem.
Practically, the setting works well. People climb the walls and rush into scenes so Hall keeps things moving, complexity and tempo controlled with satisfying verve.
Antonio: Bob Barrett.
Salerio: Sam Swainsbury.
Bassiano: Jack Tarlton.
Gratiano; Richard Frame.
Lorenzo: Richard Dempsey.
Portia; Kelsey Brookfield.
Nerissa: Chris Myles.
Shylock: Richard Clothier.
Morocco: Jonathan Livingstone.
Tubal/Aragon: Thomas Padden.
Lancelot Gobbo: John Dougall.
Jessica: Jon Trenchard.
Duke of Venice: Babou Ceesay.
Monsieur Le Bon/Preacher: Emmanuel Idowu.
Director Edward Hall.
Designer: Michael Pavelka.
Lighting: Ben Ormerod.
2009-03-25 10:23:27