Play: William Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”
William Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” is a comedy based on the emotional and financial misadventures, in which love and hate intertwine with the world of finance, complicated transactions and legal loopholes. Does is sound familiar? The Bard of Avon described sixteenth-century Venice and in doing so, he was simultaneously able to depict universal rules governing the world of the rich and the beautiful. Venice does not appear in Shakespeare’s play by accident – in his times it played the same role as Wall Street of London’s City today.
It is here that this unusual play takes place – merchant Antonio, motivated by his friendship with Bassanio, gives him a considerable sum of money so that he can court beautiful and rich Portia. However, Antonio borrows the money from Shylock the Jew, his archenemy, who demands as a deposit “only” a pound of the debtor’s flesh. Antonio may pay with his own life for his generosity and his wish to secure his friend’s marital happiness.
Cast:
Duke of Venice - Piotr Wysocki
Prince of Morocco - Tomasz Bielawiec
Prince of Arragon - Jerzy Kurczuk
Antonio, a merchant of Venice - Jerzy Rogalski
Bassanio, Antonio’s friend; suitor to Portia - Wojciech Rusin
Solanio, friend of Antonio and Bassanio - Wojciech Dobrowolski
Salarino, friend of Antonio and Bassanio - Daniel Salman
Gracyano, friend of Antonio and Bassanio - Krzysztof Olchawa
Lorenzo, in love with Jessica - Paweł Kos
Shylock, a rich Jew, moneylender, father of Jessica - Janusz Łagodziński
Tubal, a Jew, Shylock’s friend - Witold Kopeć
Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock’s friend - Daniel Dobosz
Old Gobbo, father of Launcelot - Jan Wojciech Krzyszczak
Stephano, Portia’s servant - Przemysław Gąsiorowicz
Portia, rich heiress - Marta Ledwoń
Nerrisa, Portia’s waiting maid - Halszka Lehman
Jessica, Shylock’s daughter - Marta Sroka
Crew:
Paweł Łysak - director
Artur Pałyga - dramaturg
Justyna Łagowska - scenography, costumes, lighting
Katarzyna Jeznach – assistant scenographer