Merchant of Venice 1st Preview Thoughts

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 12:11am

Hey guys- just got back from the 1st preview of Merchant of Venice. Here's some thoughts:

LINE: Got there at 5:45 AM and was about 150 people back in line. Ended up getting tickets, but they were the back row. Luckily it was the center, so I think it was still a great seat. But really, there are only a few crappy seats in the Delacorte anyway. Totally sold out- not an empty seat in the house, and when I walked in there was a significant standby line.

AUDIENCE: Seemed to be many corporate sponsors and such there- people I didn't recognize from the line. Nearly the entire middle first rows seemed to be them. Amazingly enough though, among these peeps was a NY representative, borough chief and CHEVY CHASE. Sporting a baseball hat and a wonderful attitude- mingled and joked through intermission. Seemed like a great guy.

SHOW: Most depressing comedy ever. This is my first time actually seeing MoV, so I don't have much to compare it to. The set is very industrial- cages and an iron staircase. Big change from last year's magical tone. But still I think the Victorian era concept worked well and later in the show some mystical elements came into play. I was amazed at the flexibility of the design. Cool surprise set-wise late in the 2nd act.

Al Pacino was absolutely amazing- I'd compare his character here a lot to Roy Coehn in Angels in America the miniseries. The second act dragged a bit at the end once he left for the show. A very physical performance on his part- his best scene actually had no words: the baptism. (No Godfather jokes, please!) I was worried the whole show that he was aging so poorly- hunch, semi-limp, fragility... but then he leaped onstage for the bow and I realized I had been played.

Jesse L. Martin was very humorous, Jesse Tyler Ferguson was also funny, but had a pretty sparse role. Woman playing Portia was also very well spoken and powerful. Also had a knack for comedic timing. The cast was strong overall I'd say though.

The show dealt with the 'anti-Semitic' issue very very well- though I won't say carefully. It was blunt and striking. No apology- which is a very needed interpretation of the material. No pity was asked of Shylock, but boy were the other people total d***s. I've never seen Pacino's film interpretation of the role, but I think there was no way this could have been done better. Pretty amazing for a first preview.

Updated On: 6/13/10 at 12:11 AM

[The Other One]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 12:48am

I share your thoughts. I did think Al developed a case of the Pacino shouts in Act Two, but for the most part he gave an excellent performance in a very well directed production of this difficult play. (The baptism scene was indeed haunting)

I had somehow never seen Lily Rabe on stage before. She is a wonderful Portia.

Katurian, if you get the chance do rent the movie. It is quite good, and Pacino is especially good (and subtle) in it.

[PauloFanClem]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 12:51am

Pacino's film version is leaning to argue for Shylock. However, during our discussion of this play in my Shakespeare course, we found out that the ring episode at the end is very important of reading the play. It really stands out from the play as a conclusion, and we thought that the play afterall is against Antonio and Bassanio's actions through out the whole story. Well, that's just an interpretation. I wonder how they play out that scene.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 9:16am

@The Other One: Ah- I will have to check out the film version now! Thanks for the assurance. Glad you enjoyed it as well. Perfect night for it!


My friend I went to the show with- who is far more versed in Shakespeare than I am - really appreciated the final scene of the show. She was talking about 'false happy endings' and no one being really satisfied. Also, if it was any indication comedy-wise, the audience was laughing pretty significantly at the comedic lines in it.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 9:17am

It's only a comedy because it doesn't end in death.

What was the running time?

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 9:33am

Well put...

Including the intermission, it was about 3 hours long. There were some introductions and a speech by the borough chief at the beginning though, so I'd say on a typical night it would work out to be a standard 2 hrs and 45 minutes.

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 10:51am

Quick question: How'd they play the Antonio-Bassanio relationship- simply as good buddies, or was there a romantic edge to it?

[The Other One]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 12:47pm

There is a romantic edge. Antonio seems sadly in love with someone he knows he can't have, Bassanio just flirtatious enough to whet his appetite.

[quitetheatrical23]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 1:51pm

can anyone report if Pacino (or anyone else) stagedoored?

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 2:38am

This is a little gem of a show. I'm certainly no Shakespeare expert, but I adored this production. As with last year, the rain comments got loads of laughter.