Merchant of Venice
Dates of performance
11 JANUARY - 15 FEBUARY 1992
Overview
A play on revenge and retribution
Bassanio needs to repay a loan to his friend Antonio, a leading merchant of Venice, so he hatches a plot to win the hand of Portia, a young and wealthy heiress. However, to do so, he must borrow money from the vindictive moneylender Shylock, who desires revenge on Antonio in the form of "a pound of flesh." The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare's most memorable comedies
Synopsis
Bassanio seeking Portia's hand in marriage asks Antonio for assistance, reluctantly Antonio gives him the money. As per Portia’s late father the suitor must choose the correct of three chests (gold, silver, and lead), if correct, he may marry Portia. She likes none of her six suitors, but wishes for Bassanio to come. In Venice, Bassanio convinces the merchant Shylock the Jew to lend him money. Shylock hopes that Antonio will default the loan.The Moroccan prince followed by the Prince of Arragon arrive at Belmont to woo Portia. Both fail to select the correct chest and are forced to vow never to marry.
Back in Venice, Launcelot Gobbo, a clown and Shylock's servant, tells his father, old Gobbo, that he wishes to leave Shylock and work for Bassanio. Gratiano then arrives and tells Bassanio he'll help him win over Portia. Shylock's daughter, Jessica, gives a love letter to Launcelot to deliver to Antonio's Christian friend Lorenzo. In the letter, Lorenzo learns that Jessica will pretend to be a male torchbearer for him at the supper between Antonio and Shylock... After Lorenzo and Jessica unite, they all head to meet Bassanio on Antonio's ship to sail to Portia's. Salerio assures Solanio that Lorenzo and Jessica were not on the ship with Bassanio and Gratiano, and they are thus missing. Shylock, of course, wants his money and his daughter back.
Solanio and Salerio confirm that Antonio's ship has sunk. At Portia's house, she begs Bassanio to wait in choosing so that she may spend time with him, in case he chooses wrong. He correctly chooses the lead casket and wins Portia's hand in marriage. To seal the union, Portia gives Bassanio a ring. Gratiano then announces his intention to wed Nerissa. Next, Salerio, Lorenzo, and Jessica arrive, informing Bassanio that Antonio lost his ships, and, furthermore, that Shylock is viciously declaring forfeiture of the bond by Antonio. Bassanio leaves for Venice to repay the loan but is then arrested. Lorenzo and Jessica are left to manage Portia’s house under the impression that the ladies are going to a monastery until Bassanio returns. But instead they disguise themselves as young men and travel to Venice.
At Antonio sentencing wherein Shylock intends to cut "a pound of flesh from Antonio's breast" since that was the terms of the bond. Gratiano, Bassanio, the Duke, and Portia try to dissuade Shylock, to no avail. Yet, Portia points out that the deed calls for no blood to be shed and exactly one pound to be taken, lest Shylock be guilty of not following the bond himself. Shylock, realizing this is impossible, recants and simply requests 9,000 ducats. As Shylock was himself guilty of a crime; conspiring to kill another citizen, he is punished into giving half his belongings to the court and promise to give all his remaining belongings to his daughter and son-in-law (Lorenzo) upon his death; and become a Christian. With no other choice, Shylock agrees.
The next morning Bassanio and Portia, and Gratiano and Nerissa reunite. Antonio discovers that three of his ships have come to port full of merchandise. And all is well in Belmont.
Cast List
| DUKE OF VENICE | BLAISE KOCH | |
| ANTONIO | Merchant of Venice | ANDRE JACOBS |
| BASSANIO | Suitor to Portia | GAVIN VAN DEN BERG |
| SALERIO | Friends to Antonia & Bassanio | MARK HOEBEN |
| SOLANIO | Friends to Antonia & Bassanio | KURT WUSTMANN |
| SALARINO | TIMOTHY MAHONEY | |
| GRATIANO | Friends to Antonia & Bassanio | JONATHAN PIENAAR |
| LORENZO | In love with Jessica | ROBERT FRIDJHON |
| SHYLOCK | A rich Jew of Venice | ROBERT WHITEHEAD |
| PRINCE OF MOROCCO | Suitor to Portia | PETER BUTLER |
| PRINCE OF ARRAGON | Suitor to Portia | BLAISE KOCH |
| TUBAL | Shylock’s friend | NELLS COETZEE |
| LAUNCELOT GOBBO | Servant to Shylock | BASIL APPOLLIS |
| OLD GOBBO | Father of Launcelot | ROYSTON STOFFELS |
| LEONARDO | Servant to Bassanio | ANDRE SAMUELS |
| STEPHANO | A servants to Portia | MATHEW ROBERTS |
| PORTIA | A rich heiress | FIONA RAMSAY |
| NERISSA | Portia’s waiting- woman | PAULINE O’KELLY |
| JESSICA | Daughter to Shylock | MICHELLE SCOTT |
| MAGNIFICOES OF VENICE, OFFICERS, GOALER, SERVANTS AND OTHER ATTENDANTS | INA VERMEULEN IVAN ABRAHAMS ANDRE SAMUELS MATHEW ROBERTS |
|
Creative List
| STAGE DIRECTOR | PATRICK CURTIS |
| STAGE MANAGER | LORRAINE BELLAMY |
| ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER | PAUL SMITH |
| SOUND OPERATOR | CARA BOWLING |
| LIGHTING OPERATOR | CHRIS BAATJIES |
| WARDROBE CO-ORDINATOR | AVRIL KINDO |
| WIG MASTER | CHIPPO GRIEBELAAR |
| POSTER DESIGN | MARIAAN LAUBSCHER |
| PHOTOGRAPHER | PETER STANFORD |
| STAGE HAND | CHIPPO GRIEBELAAR |
