Review: Problematic MERCHANT OF VENICE from Seattle Shakes

Seattle Shakespeare Company has never been one to shy away from a challenge and with their current production of "The Merchant of Venice" they certainly seem to have a challenge on their hands. As I see it they have one challenge they can, and hopefully will overcome as the production continues, the pace of the show, and one challenge inherit to the piece that they can never defeat but only embrace, the overt antisemitism.

Let's see if we can condense this. Bassanio (Richard Nguyen Sloniker) wants to court Portia (Jen Taylor) but is broke. So, he goes to his wealthy friend Antonio (Darragh Kennan) for help but Antonio's money is all tied up in investments so he must borrow some until his ships come back into port. They go to Shylock (Amy Thone) the Jewish money lender who hates Antonio for his outspoken antisemitism but agrees to the loan and with no interest with one condition, if the loan is defaulted Shylock will collect a pound of flesh from Antonio. Thinking there's no way he will default he agrees. Meanwhile the Christian Lorenzo (Trick Danneker) has fallen in love with Shylock's daughter Jessica (Katya Landau) and they run off together taking much of Shylock's fortune with them. Bassanio goes off to woo Portia and, you guessed it, Antonio must default on the loan when word comes that his three ships have all gone missing, which then brings the matter before the Duke as to whether Shylock can actually claim her pound of flesh or not.

Let's discuss the second problem first, the Jewish elephant in the room as it were. Yes, it was a different era and different attitudes and all that but sheesh! Throughout the play Shylock is mostly referred to as "The Jew" or simply "Jew" even in court. And it's certainly not a title of identification as it's mostly spat out at her. And the final moment where (SPOILER ALERT) as part of the punishment in court they demand that Shylock convert to Christianity and everyone cheered. Everyone that is except Shylock who shrieked and the audience who gasped and shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Will, this may have been cool in your day but in 2018 telling someone to give up their religion is a bit of a no no.

But the subject matter aside, the play also suffers some pacing issues, especially in Act One. Not throughout and not with everyone but enough that you could see it. Could have been opening night settling in. Could have been that not everyone has down the intent and meaning of what they're saying and are just speaking the pretty Shakespearean words (a pet peeve of mine) which drags any Shakespeare show down. And it could be that there were a few too many unearned pauses happening. Whatever the case, director Desdemona Chiang seemed to have ironed much of it out for Act Two as that was much smoother.

The cast notes some absolute pros in their ranks and when they're on stage, you're in for a hell of a time. Thone tackling the role of Shylock is a stunner. She imbues the traditionally male character with a fierce pride and mother's love making her so much less of a villain than previous incarnations. Taylor and Sloniker are delightful together as the obviously in love couple needing to overcome the obstacles of propriety. The same could be said for Tim Gouran as Gratiano, Bassanio's friend and Lindsay W. Evans as Nerissa, Portia's maid who couple as well but much more lasciviously. And of course, the brilliant Kennan who's fear and anxiety in the court scene was palpable. Just to name a few.

So yes, the show turned me off a bit with its overt intolerance but I can look past that. But it's the inconsistencies in performance and pace that I cannot look past. And so, with my three-letter rating system, I give Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of "The Merchant of Venice" a half-hearted MEH+. A difficult show that needed to try a little harder.

"The Merchant of Venice" from Seattle Shakespeare Company performs at the Center Theatre through April 15th. For tickets or information contact the Seattle Shakespeare Company box office at 206-733-8222 or visit them online at www.seattleshakespeare.org.

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