April 4, 2003 – The silly side of Shakespeare is onstage at the University of the Virgin Island Little Theatre on St. Thomas this weekend and next.
Ever hear of a heroine named Portia wise in the ways of the law?
What about the expression "a pound of flesh"?
They're both from "The Merchant of Venice," the spring production of UVI's Speech Communications and Theatre Area. Performances are Friday, Saturday and Sunday the weekends of April 4-6 and 11-13.
Although the play deals with serious situations, its approach is definitely comedic. Humanities Division faculty member Michael J. Prenevost, who is directing the production, says the plot reminds him of such popular TV shows as "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette" and even "Survivor."
"The very idea of throwing two people together to be engaged seems ridiculous," Prenevost says. "Then again, there was a time when arranged marriages by parents were quite common." And that's what the play is all about, he says, with elements of "romance, comedy, prejudice and greed."
Prenevost has updated the setting from the 16th century to the 1970s, with "abridged Shakespearian language" and what he terms a definite "disco" feel.
Even in Shakespeare's own version, the play has a feminist flavor. The heroine, Portia, is a role model for female law students, even though she misrepresents herself. And just about everyone associates the name "Shylock" with "shyster" and that expression "a pound of flesh," even if they don't know where it came from.
The story — according to Shakespeare, anyway — begins with Bassanio asking to borrow some money from Antonio, a Venetian merchant, so he can court the beautiful heiress Portia, whose father's will specified that she must wed the suitor who chooses correctly among three chests, one of which contains her portrait. Antonio says that he himself must take out a loan from a moneylender because all of his ships are at sea. The moneylender, Shylock, a Jew, tricks Antonio into promising to forfeit a pound of flesh if he cannot pay the loan back on time. Meanwhile, Shylock has other problems; his daughter Jessica has just eloped with Lorenzo, a Christian.
By the time Bassanio reaches Portia's place, two princes have already chosen the wrong boxes. In short order, B and P fall in love and — ta-da! — he picks the right chest. Their happiness and that of Bassanio's friend Gratiano, and Portia's lady-in-waiting, Nerissa, who also want to wed, is interrupted by news that Antonio has lost his ships and his money and can't repay the debt. Shylock is demanding his pound of flesh.
The Duke of Venice presides over the debtor's trial. When Shylock refuses to accept Bassanio's offer to repay the loan, the duke announces that he has called on a legal expert to settle the matter. A letter arrives from the expert saying that he has sent one of his brightest pupils to pass judgment. The pupil is Portia, disguised as a man. She reads the contract and declares that Shylock is entitled to the flesh but that, as the contract says nothing about shedding blood, he must claim the flesh without making Antonio bleed, or face arrest for taking a Christian's blood.
Without giving away the ending, suffice it to say that almost everyone lives happily ever after, despite all that political incorrectness with regard to religious tolerance.
The cast features Tavis DeWindt as Antonio; Gabriel Villegas as Bassanio; Mike Kuich as Shylock; Jolanda Donadelle as Portia; Daryle Pierre-Louis as Gratiano; Renie Benjamin as Nerissa; Douglas Iannucci at The Duke/Governor of Venice; Yasie Rashid at the Princes of Morocco and Arragon; Anique Thomas as Jessica; Dwight Browne as Lorenzo; Niala-Ann Buckley as a maid; Michelle Lawrence as a waitress; Alan Byers as Salerio, a messenger; and Rosindo Gumbs as a court guard.
Curtain time is 8 p.m. all six nights. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students with I.D. They're being sold at the UVI bookstore in the Sports and Fitness Center and the Humanities Division office on the St. Thomas campus, and at Nisky Pharmacy, Parrot Fish Music and Dockside Bookshop.
Tickets also will be available at the door each night if seating remains available. The Little Theatre seats about 125 people and UVI productions often sell out in advance, so it's a good idea to get tickets in advance.
For more information, call 693-1355.
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