Since Biblical times moneylending has been a source of profound conflict—and
it continues to haunt financial, social and cultural life in most parts of the
world. When William Shakespeare wrote “The
Merchant of Venice” Christianity objected to charging interest on loans, an
attitude that was not shared by the Jewish community. This gave way to numerous
confrontations and was also used to flaunt anti-Semitism. Today, as well as in 1596, lending money gives the lender power to impose conditions on the borrower.
In Shakespeare’s play Bassanio, a young Venitian noble, is in love with the
beautiful and wealthy Portia of Belmont, but having squandered his estate he
needs 3,000 ducats to subsidize wooing her. So he brings his problem to his
friend Antonio, a rich merchant who has often bailed him out of financial
difficulties. There’s a snag, however, because Antonio’s ships and merchandise
are busy at sea. So he tells Bassanio that he will cover him if he can find a
moneylender. That’s where the Jewish lender Shylock appears, asserting he will
not collect interest, as is his custom, but will demand a pound of flesh to be taken near the heart should the loan go to
default.
As in all of Shakespeare’s plays, the plot gets enormously complicated,
but what continues to be discussed is precisely the role of Shylock, whether he
is to be considered sympathetically or as an opportunistic abuser, whether
there is in this conflict a touch of anti-semitism.
In the opening night of the play last night at the British Arts Centre Sylock—played convincingly by Sean Wellington—approaches the audience in
defense of his determination to collect the pound of flesh:
“Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses,
affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons,
subject to the same diseases, heal’d by the same means, warm’d and cool’d by
the same winter and summer as a Christian is?”
Does Shylock collect the debt? He defends his right to do so referring to the
laws existing at the time. The hedge funds in Argentina's debt crisis also say they are acting according to the law. But we suggest that the reader see the play and conclude
for himself or herself how the issue is resolved. In this version of the play directed by Alicia Vidal, the character of Sylock occupies an intermediate position between the scoundrel and the proper man of finance.
Vidal chose to break down the Shakespearean
structure of acts and scenes into short and agile sequences stressing the
essence with no other adornments than a table, a chair, some cloths and money
boxes. The actors themselves bring on or take off the props, giving the show a
participatory feeling.
Although the text and actions are abridged, they are maintained intact
in their essence. The costumes are modern, yet retain touches of the
Shakespearean era. As a result the play is entertaining, relatively light in
substance and sustains good dramatic rhythm until the end, keeping the audience’s
attention focused on how the conflict will be resolved. The young actors of the Pest Group give a fresh uptodateness to the play.
The Merchant of Venice, 19, 20, 26 and 27th of September at the British Arts Centre, 1333 Suipacha street, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Cast:
Antonio Miguel Almirón
Gratiano Paul Parsley
Bassanio Guido
Nerissa Tatiana Gurevich
Portia Bárbara Bernardi
Shylock Sean Wellington
Launcelot Franco Gariballi
Jessica Ana Spagnolo
Lorenzo Juan Pablo D'Aqui
Morocco/Tubal Diego Romero
Director Alicia Vidal
Production Cecilia Verga
Voice Coach Jorge Verga
Costumes Natalia Bernardi
Subtitles Natalia Bernardi
Lights Daniel Compaya
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