Opening night:
05th March 2011
Translator Milan Jesih
Director Eduard Miler
Adaptation and dramaturgy by Žanina Mirčevska
Set designer Branko Hojnik
Costume designer Jelena Proković
Language consultant Tatjana Stanič
Choreographer Jana Menger
Music chosen by Eduard Miler
Ana Lazovski
Light designer Milan Podlogar
Tea Konte
Cast:
Zvone Hribar - The Duke of Venice
Gorazd Logar - The Prince of Morocco, suitor to Portia
Aljaž Jovanović - The Prince of Arragon, suitor to Portia
Alojz Svete - Antonio, a Merchant of Venice
Marko Mandić - Bassanio, his friend, and suitor to Portia
Rok Vihar - Gratiano, friend to Antonio and Bassanio
Klemen Slakonja - Lorenzo, in love with Jessica
Igor Samobor - Shylock, a Jew
Matija Rozman/ Gorazd Logar - Tubal, a Jew, his friend
Gregor Baković - Launcelot, servant to Shylock
Nataša Barbara Gračner - Portia, an heiress, of Belmont
Nina Ivanišin - Nerissa, her waiting-woman
Saša Mihelčič - Jessica, daughter to Shylock
Antonio, the merchant of Venice, lends three thousand ducats to
his friend Bassanio in order to assist him in his wooing of the
wealthy and beautiful Portia of Belmont, an estate some distance
from Venice. But Antonio’s own money is tied up in business
ventures that depend on the safe return of his ships from sea, so
he borrows the money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender
whom he has previously insulted for his high rates of interest.
Shylock lends the money against a bond whereby failure to repay
the loan on the agreed date will entitle Shylock to a pound of
Antonio’s flesh. Portia’s father has decreed that she will marry
whichever suitor makes the correct choice when presented with
three caskets, made of gold, silver and lead. Where wealthy suitors
from Morocco and Arragon fail, Bassanio succeeds by choosing
lead. His friend Gratiano marries Portia’s lady-in-waiting
Nerissa at the same time. News arrives that Antonio’s ships have
been lost: he is unable to pay his debt. Shylock’s claim to his
pound of flesh is heard in the law court before the duke. Unknown
to their husbands, Portia disguises herself as a young
male lawyer acting on behalf of Antonio, Nerissa as a clerk. Portia’s
ingenious defence is that Shylock is entitled to his pound of
flesh but not to spill any of Antonio’s blood; she argues that the
Jew should forfeit his life for having conspired against the life of
a Venetian. The duke pardons Shylock on condition that he gives
half his wealth to Antonio and half to the state. Antonio surrenders
his claim on condition that Shylock converts to Christianity
and leaves his property to his daughter Jessica, whom he has
disinherited for running away with her Christian lover Lorenzo.
Portia and Nerissa then assert their power over Bassanio and
Gratiano by means of a trick involving rings that the men have
promised never to part with. Finally there is good news about
Antonio’s ships.
W. Shakespeare: Complete Works.
Ed. J. Bate and E. Rasmussen. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2007.