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Spring 2005 - The Merchant of venice


Antonio, a rich merchant, risks his life for his lover, who gambles it for love and money. Jessica risks her father's love for her own happiness; while Shylock risks everything for revenge. And Portia, for love, risks discovery in a desparate plan to save her husband's lover. The award winning BSC presents a dark comedy of love, hate and hazzard.
At first glance, modern "political correctness" could almost rule-out putting on this play. But to a perceptive audience, the play will show why Shylock behaves as he does and why his behavior is no worse or no better that that of the Christians. Shylock makes a generous offer of an interest-free loan even though that is how he makes his living. He does this because he is taunted that Christians will make interest-free loans to each other, and he wants to stop himself and his people being seen as third class citizens - "dogs to be spat upon and mistreated". After all the years of being so badly treated, that offer is mocked, it is the last straw and so it is understandable that he thinks in terms of revenge.
So already we can see that the play is as much anti-Christian as it is anti-Semitic - in fact it is a play about the human condition and behaviour in extremes. Shylock is pushed to his limits by the racism of the society in which he lives and perhaps his only real guilt is that of being human.
And the pound of flesh? It starts as a joke - howbeit the joke of an embittered man. But, by the time of the trial, he has been unhinged by his daughter's betrayal and he sees the "pound of flesh" as the key to his revenge for the misery he and his community are suffering at the hands of the Christians.
We see in this play some of the worst in human nature but if we put ourselves in Shylock's shoes, how many of us would react differently? Come and see this powerful and thought-provoking play and then ask yourself how you would react.

Our Director will be Alan Ablewhite.
The all star line up is:
Antonio - Brian Terry
Bassanio - Neil Gray
Portia - Clare Azeem
Nerissa - Lorraine Ely
Shylock - John Gadd
Gratiano - Guy Harding
Saleria - Louise O'Connor
Solania - Jean Summers
Lorenzo - Matt Polley
Jessica - Victoria Hendley
Morocco - Martin Goldstone
Duke and Arragon - Ifor Jevons
Launcelot and Tubal - David Pitchford
Balthasar and Clerk - Trevor Jones