The Southwick Players present The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

Directed by Sam Razavi

Multi-award winning Wick Theatre Company, celebrating 75 years of theatre this year, is set to present a very special and unique version of “The Merchant of Venice” in March. This classic play is fraught with many difficulties in current times as it is billed as a comedy yet the main thread of the plot is far from comedic. This very special version sees the tale brought completely up to date, as the ideas are already current, not least are the themes of religious prejudice and the fundamental sense of right and wrong.

This main thread is of the Merchant: Antonio, who borrows money from Shylock and instead of interest, they agree if Antonio cannot pay that he must give a pound of his flesh to Shylock. Taken out of context this might seem ludicrous to our modern eyes but as it unfolds in the play it is easy to understand how this happens, as there is no way in anyone’s view that Antonio would not have the money to pay Shylock back – then of course disaster strikes and they wind up in court, with Shylock seeking just what he is owed. The comedy plot strand in the play is more a rom-com of today, where a rich daughter: Portia, is curbed by her father’s last wishes to only marry whoever guesses correctly to find her portrait in one of three different caskets. An array of arrogant suitors then try their luck, cueing much hilarity, until she finds her true love: Bassanio. Both strands come together in the courtroom and while there are additional aspects of this which in Shakespeare’s day would have been aimed at being comedic, they are far from that now, and actually tragic.

Shakespeare’s comedies all neatly tie up with everyone married off and living happily ever after. This is the exception to that rule: for this, and many other reasons scholars have debated whether this is a play about anti-Semitism or an anti-Semitic play. This is certainly a play about prejudice and where it can lead, and the consequences of repressing and subjugating people. Antonio is a Christian and Shylock is a Jew: the recipient of discrimination all his life as was the society at that time. While his most famous and heartfelt speech including the lines: “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” shows his viewpoint and speaks of equality and parity so clearly and probably more eloquently than many can manage today; there is anti-Semitism woven throughout the play from the way Shylock is greeted to the outcome where he is completely destroyed, yet still alive. To therefore bill this as a comedy would therefore be insulting, while Director Sam Razavi has kept the comedy alive in the rom-com strand of the plot, the play is a dramatic one when it portrays the relationships with Shylock and the outcome of the bargain he and Antonio have struck.

“It is a superb commentary on the greatest failure of humanity: the inability to eradicate prejudice from our day to day lives” says Sam

Razavi, who has completely updated this version to present day, including aspects of Reality TV. Sam says his vision is “to show that we live in a society where it is not beyond the realms of possibility that given the wrong power to the right people, with a sprinkling of persuasion, that tragedy can occur.”

There have been many updated versions over the past 10 years so it is clear this is a play in current consciousness. The society we live in of cancel culture: where people are quick to judge, quick to form an opinion and disagreeing with someone can cause friendships to break and families to be torn, this play asks people to empathise with each side, not showing a right and wrong, just different perspectives. Plus, the comedy moments should result in more than a little hilarity. An intriguing blend of Shakespeare in modern times will be a unique and riveting version: one definitely not to miss.

“The Merchant of Venice” runs Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 March at 7.45 each evening. Book through the Wick Theatre website: www. wicktheatre.co.uk or Ticket Source 0333 666 3366 (transaction fee applies on telephone bookings).