Directed by Igor Golyak, this production “flips the script” on The Merchant of Venice, asking how much we have truly evolved in our empathy for those we think of as the “other.”
Exploring themes of prejudice, mercy, compassion, revenge, and humanity/inhumanity, our production of The Merchant of Venice sets the story in the present moment. Bassanio, a Venetian lord whose pockets are currently empty, needs a loan to travel to the island of Belmont and pursue Portia, a rich heiress. His dear friend Antonio, a wealthy nobleman of Venice, agrees to give him a loan and, in turn, borrows the money from a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Shylock, who has resented Antonio for many years, locks him into a legal bond that will threaten his life if not fulfilled. The duality of Venice’s Carnivale – its lush, irreverent playfulness alongside its hidden underbelly of subversiveness – sets the stage for this drama to unfold, asking how much we have truly evolved in our empathy for those we think of as the “other.”
All advance single tickets are $45 ($15 savings from recent seasons!). Additionally, at the start of each show week, 10% of the house will be made available for Pay-What-You-Can ticketing, ranging from $0-$35.
Student Rush tickets are available for $15 at the door.
Phone: 617-241-2200
Email: boxoffice@actorsshakespeareproject.org
Additional time info:
Post-Show Conversations to follow on Sundays.
2021/09/23 - 2021/10/17
BCA Plaza Theatre
539 Tremont Street, Boston , MA 02116