2011 Production Summary
The Merchant of Venice
June 16 – July 10
Antonio, a Venetian Merchant, is approached for a loan by his friend Bassanio who is desperately in need of money to court Portia, a wealthy heiress. Antonio agrees, but is unable to make the loan because his money is invested in a number of trade ships that are still at sea. Antonio and Bassanio approach Shylock, a Jewish money lender, for a loan. Shylock nurses a longstanding grudge against Antonio who has made a habit of berating Shylock and other Jews in public. Shylock: “You call me dog, and spit upon my Jewish gabardine.” Although Antonio refuses to apologize for his behavior, Shylock acts agreeably and offers to lend Antonio 3000 Ducats without interest. Shylock adds, however, that, should the loan go unpaid, he is entitled to a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Shylock refers to this as “a merry bond,” to which Antonio agrees in spite of Bassanio’s warnings.
In Shylock’s own household, his servant Launcelot decides to leave Shylock’s service to work for Bassanio, and Shylock’s daughter Jessica schemes to elope with Antonio’s young Christian friend Lorenzo. That night, the streets of Venice are filled with revelers, and Jessica escapes with Lorenzo dressed as his page, taking with her a sum of Shylock’s wealth and a ring Shylock had given his late and much beloved wife.
There follows a scene in Belmont at Portia’s home where Bassanio and two other suitors for Portia’s hand must select from three boxes of gold, silver and lead. The suitor who chooses correctly will win Portia. Bassanio, needless to say, selects the lead box and wins the girl. Portia gives Bassanio a ring as token of her love and makes him swear that, under no circumstance, will he ever part with it. Gratiano, Bassanio’s friend, proposes to Portia’s lady in waiting, Nerissa, who also gives him a ring, and a double wedding is planned. The celebration is cut short by the news that Antonio’s ships have been lost at sea, and that he has forfeited his bond (contract) to Shylock.
A trial is called to decide the matter. This is perhaps the most famous scene in the play. The Duke of Venice, who presides over the trial, announces that he has sent for a legal expert who turns out to be Portia disguised as a young man of the law accompanied by Nerissa, also disguised as her clerk. Portia asks Shylock to show mercy (the famous “Quality of mercy” speech), but Shylock, angered by the loss of his daughter and generations of anti Semitic abuse, insists that the “pound of flesh” is legally his.
Shylock is about to collect his “bond”, when Portia reminds him that he must do so without causing Antonio to bleed, as the contract does not entitle him to any blood.
Trapped by the logic, Shylock agrees to take the money that Bassanio has offered him to settle the contract, but Portia reminds the court that Shylock is guilty of threatening the life of a Venetian citizen and that this is a capital offence. The Duke spares Shylock’s life, but fines him the sum of all his property– half to the state and half to Antonio. Moreover, he must convert to Christianity. Shylock leaves the court a defeated man.
Bassanio and Gratiano do not see through Portia and Nerissa’s disguses and give them the rings they promised they would never part with as payment for the trial. Back in Belmont, Portia and Nerissa reveal the ‘trick,” the lovers are reunited, and word is received that Antonio’s ships have in fact made it back safely. The group celebrates their good fortune.
In many contemporary productions, Jessica, Shylock’s daughter, is left alone on stage clearly regretting what has befallen her father.
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As You Like It
July 21 – August 14
Duke Frederick has usurped the title and throne of his older brother, Duke Senior. Duke Senior has escaped to the Forest of Arden with his band of loyal followers, leaving his daughter, Rosalind, behind at court. Into this situation, enter Orlando and Oliver de Boys, two brothers divided because of Orlando’s long standing mistreatment by his brother. When Orlando enters a wrestling match sponsored by Duke Frederick, Oliver tells Orlando’s opponent, Charles (a champion wrestler) that he wouldn’t care if Charles were to break Orlando’s neck.
To the surprise of all, Orland wins the match, and, in so doing, attracts the romantic attention of Rosalind and the anger of Oliver. Orlando and his servant, Adam, escape to the Forest of Arden. Duke Frederick decides to banish Rosalind to Arden as he did with her father. Celia, Frederick’s daughter and Rosalind’s best friend, decides to go with her. Rosalind disguises herself as a boy named Ganymede and Celia assumes the role of “his” sister, Aliena. They are joined in their flight by the clown, Touchstone.
Orlando joins Duke Senior’s men. Pining for his lost Rosalind, he goes about the forest carving her name in the trees and leaving love poems scattered about and pinned to trees.
Still disguised as Ganymede, Rosalind seeks out Orlando. She promises to cure his heartache by letting him pour out his feelings to Ganymede as if “he” were Rosalind. Rosalind also attempts a match between two shepherds, Silvius and Phebe, that goes wrong when Phebe falls instead for Rosalind’s Ganymede. Meanwhile, Touchston courts a country girl, Audrey, adding to the multiple romance plots.
The resolution begins when Oliver, who has come to the forest, is saved from a lion by Orlando and the brothers are reconciled. Oliver meets Celia and falls in love with her, and Duke Senior promises to marry them the next day (no time lost). Rosalind makes Phebe promise to marry Silvius if she can’t have Ganymede and then tells Orlando that Rosalind will marry him that day as well.
When all have gathered for the wedding, Rosalind removes her Ganymede disguise. Orlando and she are happily reunited, Phebe agrees to marry Silvius, and Touchstone will marry Audrey. At this point, Jaques, a discontented melancholy Lord, brings the news that Duke Frederick has repented his ways and opted for a monastic life. Duke Senior is restored to his rightful position and all live happily ever after.
