District Merchants by Aaron Posner at Pear Theatre

District Merchants, An Uneasy Comedy examines love, loss, litigation, and predatory lending in surprising ways, wading fearlessly into the endless complexities and contradictions of life in America. Set among the Black and Jewish populations of an imagined time and place that is simultaneously Shakespearean, Reconstruction-era Washington, D.C., and today, District Merchants is a remarkable tale of money, merchandise, and mercy brought to the stage by award-winning playwright and director Aaron Posner. Performs in repertory with William Shakespeare's The Land of the Dead. “District Merchants explodes with layers of complexity… Posner has faced the most problematic aspect of Shakespeare’s play here full-on: he turns the question of anti-Semitism on its head, layering in the difficult relationships between two groups historically treated as ‘Other’ in America.” — DC Metro Theater Arts. “…it’s a well-balanced play, as hopeful and joyous as it is revealing of bankrupt moral systems. …While Posner doesn’t offer easy answers, the sturdy balance among his characters does create something that feels very truthful, worthwhile, and profound.” —TheaterMania.