Morgan Walker/ Buffalo News

Seldom have humor and menace combined in such a potent brew as Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice,” a tale of improbable comedy in the face of fierce prejudice that opened the 36th season of Shakespeare in Delaware Park in grand fashion on Thursday night.

And this production, fraught with tension and loaded with deeply felt performances, achieved a rare immediacy that kept audience members on the hill utterly rapt across the play’s very fast three hours. This is no small task, as anyone who has slogged through lesser productions of outdoor Shakespeare can readily attest.

Director Brian Cavanagh has taken the straightforward approach. There’s no daring directorial concept at work here, just a sense that the cast was given enough time and space to grow comfortable in their characters’ often unsavory skins and to pay deep attention to the emotional thrust behind the play’s utterly spellbinding language.

The plot, for the uninitiated, goes like this:

The affable but poor Bassanio (Adriano Gatto) has an incurable thing for Portia (Susan Drozd), a smoking-hot young heiress hotly pursued by dukes and princes with tons of money but absolutely no game. Portia loves Bassanio, but she shall hath no scrubs, so Bassanio asks his main man Antonio, a Venetian merchant, to spot him some cash.

Antonio, in turn, makes the truly boneheaded move of borrowing the money from a spiteful Jewish moneylender by the name of Shylock (Saul Elkin), who has an ancient ax to grind against Antonio specifically and Christianity in general. Shylock lends the money with the grim caveat that if Antonio does not fully repay the debt within three months, he is entitled to a pound of of the merchant’s flesh. Think of Shylock as the godfather of predatory lending.

Bassanio, after going through an absurd ritual involving three locked boxes to win Portia’s hand—a sort of 14th-century mixture of “The Bachelorette” and “The Price is Right” — gets what he was after. But Antonio isn’t so lucky. After his ships are reported lost at sea, he forfeits his end of the bloody bargain, and things really start to heat up.

Elkin’s performance as Shylock is a study in withering condescension and untempered disgust, a chilling embodiment of the prejudices at the center of this play, the ways in which they draw on deep historical roots and seem doomed to propagate themselves endlessly.

Peter Palmisano, an actor who rarely disappoints in Shakespearean roles, brings Antonio, in all his affected honor and his own detestable prejudices, to brilliant life. As Bassanio, Gatto is the picture of affability and Drozd, as Portia, gives her character a confident and deeply appealing interpretation. David Autovino has some great comic moments, while the interplay between Chris Labanca as the clownish Launcelot and David Lundy as his father is more than a bit cute. A couple of glaring performances lag far behind the lot, but on the whole this cast deserves accolades for rendering their lines so deftly and with so much genuine feeling.

As usual, sound designer Tom Makar plays an indispensable role in establishing the play’s alternately lighthearted and deeply menacing tenor with a sound design that inserts itself into the play without ever making itself too apparent. He’s helped by the able lighting designer Chris Cavanagh, set designer Ron Schwartz and costumer designer Ken Shaw.

The result of all this is a “Merchant of Venice” that in some ways reduces the distance between 14th century Italy and 21st century Buffalo to a hair’s breadth. It makes it not just easy but utterly necessary for us consider just how far our prejudices have traveled since then and gives us an opportunity to reflect on the corrupting forces of dehumanization, revenge and redemption that sit at the play’s heart.

Session I: Merchant of Venice will run from June 11 to July 10.

Session II: As You Like It will run from July 16 to August 14.

This season’s productions are:

Merchant of Venice
directed by Brian Cavanagh
June 16– July 10

As You Like It
directed by Eileen Dugan
July 21 – August 14

Shakesperience is open to area high school students; this program is designed to provide in-depth theatrical experience with theatre professionals. Each session runs for five weeks, beginning the week prior to regularly scheduled performances. Applicants will be required to participate in an enrollment interview on Saturday, April 30 between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. In addition to attending theatre classes taught by local actress, director and theatre teacher Susan Drozd, students gain hands-on experience in a professional production as part of SDP technical crew and will perform on stage during the season productions and in a special student performance during the season.

Tuition is $400 per five-week session. Scholarships are available.

Applicants must call for an interview appointment. No interviews will be conducted on a walk-in basis.

For an appointment or further information call 856-4533.

Saturday, February 19th:
9am to 2pm – OPEN CALL

Sunday February 20th:
9am to 2pm – CALL BACKS for Merchant of Venice

Monday February 21st:
5pm to 9pm – CALL BACKS for As You Like It

Auditions will be held at The Market Arcade Building – 617 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 (Please note this is NOT the Market Arcade “Movie” Complex. There is parking and entrance on Washington Street).

OPEN CALL AUDITIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Everyone interested in being considered for the 2011 season must make an audition appointment. To arrange an appointment, please call (716) 856-4533, on or after February 7th (no audition appointments will be accepted before February 7th). Leave your name, phone number, date and approximate time you wish to audition. You will be called back with a confirmation of your audition time.

2011 Season productions include:
MERCHANT OF VENICE – June 16th through July 10th – Directed by Brian Cavanagh
AS YOU LIKE IT — July 21st through August 14th — Directed by Eileen Dugan

Actors should prepare one memorized, Shakespearean monologue, not to exceed 2 minutes. If you have played a “principal role” for Shakespeare in Delaware Park in the past you may not need to prepare a monologue, just call for information regarding a call back audition appointment. All Actors are requested to bring a resume/career bio and a head shot to the audition. The part of Shylock in MERCHANT OF VENICE has already been cast.

Macbeth also stars: Pamela Mangus, Katie White and Lisa Vitrano. Directed by Eileen Dugan, fight choreography by Steve Vaughn, costume design by Dixon Reynolds and set design by Lynne Koscielniak and Dyan O’Connell . As a “must-see summer event,” Shakespeare in Delaware Park reaches more than 40,000 audience members each year and is proud to be celebrating 35 incredible years of high-quality professional theatre which remains FREE for the public to enjoy.

Shakespeare in Delaware Park performances are held every evening (except Mondays) at 7:30 p.m. Shows take place on Shakespeare Hill in Delaware Park, next to Hoyt Lake behind the Rose Garden, off Lincoln Parkway near the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

When Elkin first came to Buffalo, he was certainly not a novice in the professional theatre. He already held graduate degrees from Columbia and Carnegie Melon universities, performed on and off Broadway, and was hired as the Theatre Department Chairperson at University of Buffalo. His genius, passion and drive are the qualities that propelled Shakespeare in Delaware Park to the cultural institution it is today.

This year Elkin opened the season with William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, which runs until July 11 before it makes way for the second show of the season, Macbeth. About a half hour before the show opened, he graciously spoke with me about his views on theatre, directing and education. His love of the art is clearly a direct reflection for his love of life. “I don’t feel any older,” he laughed. And then he got a twinkle in his eye when he mentioned his talented daughters, both professional artists in their own right (Rebecca is an actor and drama therapist; Emily is an accomplished cellist). “My greatest happiness is that they’re both performing artists,” said Elkin.

In the middle of our conversation he blushed when an audience member wanted to praise him. “My family and I want to thank you,” said the patron. “We were watching you rehearse in the park last week, and we want to tell you that coming to your shows every year has been a big part of our lives.”

This is the very magic that Elkin casts on wide audiences. His uncanny ability to make Shakespeare accessible is second to none. This year, for instance, he took creative liberty and set Much Ado in the post-war 1940′s era. The production is complete with dancing and the live music he loves from that time period. A chorus of four singers and an on-stage accompanist not only captured the attention of the large audiences on the hill, but even the interest of people who weren’t even at the festival. They were walking dogs or jogging along Hoyt Lake, and they stopped in their tracks– spellbound.

But Elkin said the success of the company is not all his. “In brief, however much I prepare, invent, or conceptualize, I try not to see the final product in my mind’s eye. I try to cast [the plays] well and then open the door for the actors and designers to invent and surprise me– and they always do,” he said.

Lisa Ludwig, one of Buffalo’s first-rate actors and Managing Director of the company, is playing the lead female role of Beatrice in Much Ado. As she prepared for her performance back stage, in her 1940′s Katherine Hepburn-like costume, she shared how wonderful it is to work on the production. “What can I say? I love working with Saul,” she said. “And there is nothing like looking out at the audience on a perfect summer night when the sun has just set and the citronella candles are flickering and [I have] this moment of knowing how lucky we are to have Shakespeare in Delaware Park in Buffalo,” she added.

Much Ado About Nothing runs until July 11, 2010. (There will be no show on July 4). Both plays of the season, Much Ado and Macbeth, run Tuesdays through Sundays, and start at 7:30 pm. On Tuesdays the directors will hold discussions with audiences a half hour before curtain. Also, pre-show live music is performed at 7pm on Wednesdays. It is best to get there early, as audiences flock to the hill in order to set up lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. In the wise words of the Bard himself, “Joy’s soul lies in the doing.” Hazzah!

Rather than attempting to label some performances as “nuanced, engrossing interpretations” (good stuff!), and others as “credible attempts to deliver” (not quite so good!),I would emphasize the extent to which this is an ensemble production, featuring a marvelous group of Buffalo actors working together, playing off each other and creating a hugely entertaining version of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”

I would mention that these people are all multitalented, not only delivering Shakespeare’s words clearly and meaningfully, not an easy task, but singing, and dancing, and dealing with the slings and arrows and noises of our outdoor theater.

I would mention that the lighting was so good that it wouldn’t even be noticed, that the sound system worked brilliantly most of the time, that the costumes and setting were all cleverly designed and adapted to add to the intended effect of the play. I would mention the many sea gulls who flew overhead on cue, and the lone blue heron who graced the sky during intermission. I would mention the huge crowd of all ages, whose attention was held by the warm antics on stage, even after the chilly darkness began to descend. This production is no stumble. It shines. I encourage readers to see for themselves. They won’t regret it.

John Rex
Buffalo

Shakespeare in Delaware Park reaches over 40,000 audience members each season and is proud to be celebrating 35 amazing years of high-quality professional theatre that remains FREE to the public. Much Ado About Nothing runs June 17th – July 11th with Macbeth on stage July 22nd –August 15th. Performances are held every evening (except Mondays) at 7:30 p.m. (no performances June 18th and July 4th). Shows take place on Shakespeare Hill in Delaware Park, next to Hoyt Lake behind the Rose Garden, off Lincoln Parkway near the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Further information may be obtained at www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org or by calling (716) 856-4533.

2010 Season Sponsors include M&T Bank, Erie County, New York State Council on the Arts, WGRZ Channel 2, The Buffalo News, Rich Renaissance Catering, Brodo, WBFO and CPI. Additional funding comes from members, donors and audience donations.

Saturday, May 1st from 11 AM to 2 PM

Session I : MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING will run from: June 12 to July 11

Session II : MACBETH (all female cast) will run from: July 17 to August 15

This season’s productions are:

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING – directed by Saul Elkin June 17– July 11
MACBETH (all female cast) – directed by Eileen Dugan July 22 – August 15

Open to area high school students, this program is designed to provide in-depth theatrical experience with theatre professionals. Each session runs for five weeks, beginning the week prior to regularly scheduled performances. Applicants will be required to participate in an enrollment interview. In addition to attending theatre classes, students gain hands-on experience in a professional production as part of SDP technical crew and will perform on stage in a special student performance during the season. Tuition is $375.00 per five-week session.

Scholarships are available.

APPLICANTS MUST CALL FOR AN INTERVIEW APPOINTMENT. NO INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON A WALK IN BASIS.

For an appointment or further information call 856-4533.

Saturday, February 13th
9am to 2pm
OPEN CALL

Sunday, February 14th
10am to 2pm
CALL BACKS – Much Ado About Nothing

Monday, February 15th
5pm to 9pm
CALL BACKS – Macbeth (all female cast)
Auditions will be held at The Market Arcade Building – 617 Main Street Buffalo 14203 (note: this is NOT the Market Arcade Movie Complex)

OPEN CALL AUDITIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Everyone interested in being considered for the 2010 season must make an audition appointment. To arrange an appointment, please call (716) 856-4533, on or after February 1st (no audition appointments will be accepted before February 1st). Leave your name, phone number, date and approximate time you wish to audition. You will be called back with a confirmation of your audition time.

2010 Season productions include:

Much Ado About Nothing
June 17th through July 11th
Directed by Saul Elkin

Macbeth (all female cast)
July 22nd through August 15th
Directed by Eileen Dugan

Actors should prepare one memorized, Shakespearean monologue, not to exceed 2 minutes (you may be asked to sing a 1930′s or 40′s standard acapella). If you have played a “principal role” for Shakespeare in Delaware Park in the past you may not need to prepare a monologue, just call for information regarding a call back audition appointment. All Actors are requested to bring a resume/career bio and a head shot to the audition.

Shakespeare in Delaware Park is excited to reveal plans for its 35th season in 2010. Although the current schedule of performances is still underway, with Antony, Cassius and Brutus plotting Caesar’s demise every Tues – Sun through August 16th, the company’s Artistic Director, Saul Elkin, has announced that “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Macbeth” have been chosen to mark the special anniversary next summer.

“Our 35th season will be a time of both looking back and looking forward”, stated Dr. Elkin. In the past, productions made frequent use of contemporary music and choreography and modern settings. According to Dr. Elkin, next summer’s “Much Ado About Nothing” will be performed in a 20th Century setting and employ a chorus of singers who, like a Greek chorus, will comment on the action.

As for “looking forward”, think gender bending. Shakespeare wrote principally for men with a few notable female exceptions. “In three decades of our festival, hundreds of excellent actresses auditioned for whom there were no roles. To honor the great pool of actresses in Western New York, we will present AN ALL FEMALE CAST for ‘Macbeth’”, Dr. Elkin said.

“Much Ado About Nothing” will run June 17th – July 11th 2010, and “Macbeth” plays from July 22nd to August 15th