Merchant of Venice
Dates of performance
January 1963
Overview
The conflict between a Jew & a Gentile. A realistic reflection on human nature & society. The insight and honesty of which is not a pretty picture. Greed, hate revenge and retribution, prejudice, intolerance, separatism and discrimination. This play is no matter in which era tis set will always be relevant.
Synopsis of play- Original not available.
In Venice, Antonio a wealthy but worried merchant agrees to aid his already indebted friend Bassanio by standing in as guarantor to loan. Bassanio needs the money to woo his beloved Portia who is bound by commitment to he deceased father only to marry the suitor that passes a predetermined test.
Whilst other suitors fail at the task. Bassanio gets his loan from a Jewish merchant named Shylock. The price for not repaying the debt is high, namely a pound of flesh from Antonio, but Antonio is not worried. His ships (and wealth) come back a month before the debt is due...
Meanwhile, Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock's servant becomes Bassanio's new servant. Jessica, Shylock's daughter plans to elope with Lorenzo who is has roped in his friends to assist in the runaway. Jessica dresses as a boy to escape and sails on a ship of Bassanio’s.
Shylock is furious at having lost his daughter, his gold and his precious jewels to a Christian and knows that Antonio was partially involved and swears revenge...
Bassanio arrives to court Portia who is reluctant to never see Bassanio again should he fail the casket challenge. Bassanio takes the challenge, choosing correctly. Bassanio will marry Portia and it is revealed that Gratiano, Bassanio's friend, has fallen in love with Nerissa, Portia's maid and so another marriage will also occur.
Portia and Nerissa leave Belmont on a secret mission to save Antonio, disguising themselves as men. The Duke of Venice attempts to convince Shylock to let Antonio pay back Bassanio's debt. Shylock refuses. Portia, now disguised as a man, defends Antonio, winning his life, through the technicality defense that Shylock can take only a pound of flesh and no more, a clearly impossible task. Furthermore she argues that Shylock has conspired to murder, an offense that is punishable by asset confiscation and death. A compromise whereby Shylock must become Christian and give half his assets to Jessica when he dies is reached.
Portia and Nerissa arrive back at Belmont before any of the gentlemen. Much comedy ensues as the two men attempt to make excuses for giving away their wedding rings whilst in Venice. Portia ends Bassanio's and Gratiano's suffering by producing a letter which explains their role in Venice. The two men are embarrassed that they could not even recognize their own wives...
Cast List
| DUKE OF VENICE | SHOLTO GRANT | |
| PRINCE OF ARRAGON | Suitor to Portia | ROY SERGEANT |
| PRINCE OF MOROCCO | Suitor to Portia | RICHARD MANUEL |
| ANTONIO | Merchant of Venice | WILL JAMIESON |
| BASSANIO | Suitor to Portia | ROBERT DEL KYRKE |
| SALARINO | Friends to Antonia & Bassanio | ANTHONY LYKIADOPULOS |
| SALANIO | Friends to Antonia & Bassanio | JOHN VIVIAN |
| GRATIANO | Friends to Antonia & Bassanio | EDWARD DAVIES |
| LORENZO | In love with Jessica | PIETRO NOLTE |
| SHYLOCK | A rich Jew | LESLIE FRENCH |
| TUBAL | Shylock’s friend | ROY SARGEANT |
| LAUNCELOT GOBBO | Servant to Shylock | JOHN RAMSDALAE |
| OLD GOBBO | Father of Launcelot | EDWARD FAULL |
| LEONARDO | Servant to Bassanio | CLAUS ANDRUP |
| BALTHASAR | Servants to Portia | PHILIP GRAHAM |
| STEPHANO | Servants to Portia | GLYN DAY |
| PORTIA | A rich heiress | CECILIA SONNENBERG |
| NERISSA | Her gentlewoman | PATRICIA PHILLIPS |
| JESSICA | Daughter to Shylock | HELEN BOERNE |
| LADIES IN WAITING | YVONNE ASHERSON, REEVA HERMAN, HAZEL SCOTT, DOROTHY SCOTT, PAMELA SCOTT, WENDY KAYE, SYBIL GRANT |
|
| LORDS & MAGNIFICOES | BOB SCOTT, KEITH MAKER, ANDREW WOOD, PETER NORAN |
|
| PAGES | HOWARD PHAFF & ANDREW VAN NIEKERK | |
| BALLET | ||
| HARLEQUIN | VIVIAN TOMLINSON | |
| COLUBMINE | RUTH ACKERMAN | |
| PANTALONE | KEITH MAKER | |
| PAGLIACCIO | ANDREW WOOD | |
| REVELLERS | GILLIAN JOUBERT, ROSLYN STONE, ROSEMARY PAEPER, LORNA GRIEVER, ARTHUR LA TROBE, AUBREY MEYER |
Creative List
| STAGE DIRECTOR | GEORGE WASHINGTON |
| STAGE MANAGER | YVONNE ASHERSON |
| ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER | ANDREW WOOD |
| WADROBE MISTRESS | RUTH VAN ASWEGEN |
| COSTUMES DESIGN | JENNIFER CRAIG ass by CHRIS VAN NIEKERK |
| BALLET COSTUMES | HEATHER MAGOON |
| SET DESIGN | JOSEPH CAPPON |
| MUSIC RECORDING | JACK BURT |
| SOUND DIRECTOR | ERIC MORRISON |
| CHOREOGRAPHY | RICHARD GLASSTONE |
| ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT | CITY ELECTRICAL ENGINEER |
| CHOREOGRAPHY | RICHARD GLASSTONE |
| BALLET COSTUMES | HEATHER MAGOON |
| BALLET COSTUMES BY | RUTH VAN ASWEGAN |
