Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Friday, June 27, 2008

Review: Complex ‘Merchant’ is all about the gray

By Käri Knutson | Winona Daily News

“The Merchant of Venice” is a story with many layers. It’s one of Shakespeare’s more challenging plays for both the audience and for actors. The Great River Shakespeare Festival’s Wednesday preview of the play captured the complexity, making us laugh and making us squirm.

Some theatergoers shy away from the play, which is often seen as politically incorrect and anti-Semitic. Director Paul Barnes has always said that theater should challenge us and make us think. “Merchant” certainly does.

The play finds Bassanio, portrayed by the excellent Zachary Michael Fine, wanting to marry the wealthy heiress Portia, played by Tarah Flanagan. Before her father died, he came up with a riddle involving suitors to choose between three caskets of gold, silver and lead. To win Portia’s hand in marriage, he must choose correctly or never marry anyone, including Portia.

Bassanio isn’t the only man vying for Portia. The Prince of Morocco, played by Donte Fitzgerald, and the Prince of Aragon, played by Bob Fairbrook, both take on the riddle. Fitzgerald and Fairbrook are hilarious in over-the-top performances. The audience can’t help but wish better for Portia.

Bassanio could be a more suitable suitor but needs money to travel to see Portia. He seeks the help of Antonio, the merchant of Venice, played by Michael Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is always excellent, as seen in seasons two and three of GRSF. Antonio’s ships haven’t come in yet so he goes to Shylock, a Jewish money lender, played superbly by Jonathan Gillard Daly.

Antonio has often referred to Shylock as a dog. He despises the man, spitting on him only a week ago, but takes his money anyway. The catch: If he doesn’t repay, Shylock will extract a pound of his flesh.

Shylock is referred to more often as “the Jew” than by name. It’s hard to hear the word Jew said over and over in a hateful way.

Shylock is all alone in the play. Daly’s portrayal of Shylock is sympathetic, despite his anger and resentment. Daly has been with the festival since season one. Whatever role he plays is always memorable and always believable.

The brilliance of the play and of GRSF’s performance is how the characters don’t fall into the simple categories of good or bad. These are multi-layered characters — much like the people in our own lives.

AT A GLANCE

What: “The Merchant of Venice“

When: 8 p.m. tonight

Where: Winona State University’s Performing Arts Center’s Main Stage

Schedule, tickets: “The Merchant of Venice” and “The Taming of the Shrew” will be performed through July 27. Tickets are $20 to $35. For a complete schedule or for tickets, visit www.grsf.org.hat: “The Merchant of Venice“

Contact Käri Knutson at kknutson@winonadailynews.com or (507) 453-3523.