Solid 'Merchant' tackles tough topic well

With a little bit of editing and a lot of strong interpretive acting, the Theater Arts program has put a new and intriguing face on a very old play. In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, a Jew lends money to a Christian, naming one pound of the Christian's flesh as collateral. The script is full of anti-Semitic slurs and angry confrontations, which could have made it a very dangerous play to attempt during such a racially tense time at the University. This production, however, avoided the script's potential pitfalls. Director Chris Stillwell, a College senior, has managed to manipulate Shakespeare's words to make strong statements about racism, both in general and at the University. For example, he turned two of Shakespeare's characters into prejudiced newscasters. "The Venice News," which was accompanied by a slide show, included the University crest in its logo. The newscasters, played by College freshman Carolyn Kogan and College and Wharton junior Shaun Smith, mercilessly badger and degrade Shylock, the Jewish creditor, played by College junior Riaz Patel. Later, dressed in a judge's robe, Kogan presides over a kangaroo court which manipulates the law for its own purposes. These injustices, together with an extremely moving performance by Patel, make Shylock a very sympathetic character, perhaps even a hero. To present this unorthodox interpretation the cast had to be, and was, uniformly strong. Most notable were College sophomore Lester Grant as the quirky and hot-headed Gratiano, and College freshman Miranda Nickles as Laurenzo/Nerissa. Nickles managed the transition between the physically comical Laurenzo and the even-tempered Nerissa with a professional's skill and finesse. The talented and confident company made Stillwell's unusual interpretation believable, and was able to breathe new life into Shakespeare's 400-year-old words. The thought provoking show was smoothly performed and well thought out. It more than deserved the three curtain calls it got from the sold out house on opening night. Theater Arts' The Merchant of Venice will run tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Studio Theater. Tickets are on sale for $5 at the Annenberg ticket office and on Locust Walk.