“Theater is wonderful. I love how it enriches our life,” commented one of our party of theatergoers in our Uber as we departed from the downtown Teatro Nelson Rodrigues theater after opening night at the updated, imaginative version of Shakespeare´s “The Merchant of Venice.”
Meanwhile in another Uber a couple who were unpleasantly surprised by this modern dress and revised version of the classic (written between 1596-98) — despite the presence of one of Brazil´s leading actors Dan Stulbach—returned home reportedly “disappointed.”
One can only surmise the disappointed theatergoers had expected the usual –and antiquated for some—version in Elizabethan dress and speech – of a play which continues to be an update discussion on the perils of capitalism and prejudices against not only Jews but those who are classified as “foreigners.”
Despite the play being written in the sixteenth century “Shylock laughs, cries, suffers and has a whole range of emotions which for an actor is delicious. He is absolutely up to date,” Stulbach,55, told the O Globo´s Rioshow magazine.
And from the moment he appears in his headcap (yarmulke) and Tzitzis (underlying garments which are a reminder of the Lord´s presence) Stulback commands our attention and is the central attraction as Shylock.
The imaginative additions including a pulsating drummer, a camera which like a live Youtube displays the ongoing action, to a dancer and even gay kisses might revolt (and apparently did revolt) Shakespearean purists.
But there is never a dull moment in this production directed by Daniela Stirbulov with a new translation (shortened adaption) into Brazilian Portuguese by Bruno Cavalcanti.
The pound of flesh the Jew Shylock demands in re-payment of his loan to anti-Semitic businessman Antonio SEEMS almost about to occur onstage as Shylock sharpens his knife and his scales anxiously await the booty.
Opening night came as investigators in Washington D.C. checked the background and motivations of the assassin of two workers at the Israeli Embassy as they visited the Jewish Museum in the nation´s capital.
Meanwhile just as despite the “correct” legal documents to prove he merits a pound of flesh is about to be accepted in court, non-citizen Shylock loses his case when a legal detail is discovered that awards freedom to Antonio.
Sounds like a chapter out of Trump and company discovering obscure legal ruses to deport, abuse immigrants and persecute anyone or entity they believe are ‘ enemies.’
Viva Shakespeare!!!