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William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

Director

Eduard Miler

Opening night

5 March 2011
Main Stage

Duration:

145 minutes inc. interval

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.

Creators

Creative team

TRANSLATOR

Milan Jesih

Drama Igralec: Milan Jesih | odpri ustvarjalca

ADAPTATION AND DRAMATURGY

Žanina Mirčevska

Drama Igralec: Žanina Mirčevska | odpri ustvarjalca

SET DESIGNER

Branko Hojnik

Drama Igralec: Branko Hojnik | odpri ustvarjalca

COSTUME DESIGNER

Jelena Proković

Drama Igralec: Jelena Proković | odpri ustvarjalca

LANGUAGE CONSULTANT

Tatjana Stanič

Drama Igralec: Tatjana Stanič | odpri ustvarjalca

CHOREOGRAPHER

Jana Menger

Drama Igralec: Jana Menger | odpri ustvarjalca

SOUND

Eduard Miler

Drama Igralec: Eduard Miler | odpri ustvarjalca

MAKE-UP ARTIST

Ana Lazovski

Drama Igralec: Ana Lazovski | odpri ustvarjalca

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Milan Podlogar

Drama Igralec: Milan Podlogar | odpri ustvarjalca

ASSISTANT LANGUAGE CONSULTANT

Tea Konte

Drama Igralec: Tea Konte | odpri ustvarjalca

Cast

Zvone HribarDrama Igralec: Zvone Hribar | odpri igralca

The Duke of Venice

Gorazd LogarDrama Igralec: Gorazd Logar | odpri igralca

The Prince of Morocco

Aljaž Jovanović

The Prince of Arragon

Alojz Svete

Antonio

Rok ViharDrama Igralec: Rok Vihar | odpri igralca

Graziano

Klemen Slakonja

Lorenzo

Awards

2011

Igor SamoborBorštnik Award for Actor

Eduard Miler – Borštnik Award for Directing

Festivals

2011

46th Maribor Theatre Festival

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