Feature Trailer | The Merchant of Venice | Royal Shakespeare Company

www.rsc.org.uk/...
#RSCMerchant
Polly Findlay (Arden of Faversham 2014) directs Shakespeare's uncompromising play with Makram J. Khoury, one of the most celebrated actors in Israel, in his RSC debut as Shylock. The cast also includes Patsy Ferran as Portia, also making her RSC debut following her recent role as Jim in Treasure Island at the National Theatre and Jamie Ballard, returning to the RSC as Antonio, following Written on the Heart and Measure for Measure (2011).
The Merchant of Venice will also be broadcast live to cinemas on 22 July 2015

[@ReadySteadyMagic]

I saw this on screen at the cinema and then I bought the DVD. It might not be "faithful / traditional" Shakespeare, as one commenter here wrote, but that's not what the RSC is about. I loved it and thought it was powerful and thought provoking. The set 'paved' with gold, and the swinging weight / metronome were nice touches too.

[@Jalcolm1]

The main message of Shakespeare is, in WH Auden's words, "I and the public know What all schoolchildren learn,Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return.". The ticket holder, a groundling, can imagine that Shakespeare has a pat answer to human monstrosity. Lovely idea I suppose; but not Shakespeare's idea.

[@ishitajain4788]

I'd really love to see the play. :(

[@cyrusmallison6157]

Does this production include the references to St, Antonio de Padua... The pound of flesh is the friars tongue 👅

[@rashiparihar6178]

where can i watch it?

[@billsmith1778]

I was thoroughly disappointed with this play. We brought about 20 school children and decided to leave at intermission. While the actors brought plenty of energy to their performances, the interpretation was deeply flawed. Every relationship was sexual and cynical. It's obvious that the director was more concerned with being edgy and shocking than with rendering a faithful interpretation of Shakespeare. Ultimately, productions such as these suffer from a truth in advertising issue. I felt as if I were attending a performance of a Mahler symphony only to discover 4 guys improvising on electric guitars and banjos and calling their noise a "Mahler Symphony." Instead of it being "the most intense production of [Mahler]" which "speaks to this new generation" it is simply artless and banal. I can't remember a time I so anticipated a performance and came away so disappointed.

[@claudiozuniga913]

I am 100% with you. We lost every sense since mediocrecy arrived in ours life. Banality vulgarity and stupid violence is all around. It look like their idea of production is coming out of hollywood standars cheer and pure stupidity.

[@steerpike66]

'We brought about 20 school children and decided to leave at intermission' Their parents must have been delighted.

[@steerpike66]

A real teacher did not write this. If the play was 'bad', there's even greater potential for classroom analysis afterward.

[@waynejordan3495]

@@steerpike66 I totally agree with you. As a Lit and Drama teacher, I would have been eager to discuss the play in class after; the interpretation, the changes made (if they worked or not), the theatrical elements etc. What kind of teacher would pull students from a show with so much potential for discussion? smh