By Robert W. Bethune
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A father's will blights a woman's love. A man risks everything on desperately chancy business. A moneylender schemes to take bloody revenge for racist abuse. A daughter abandons her people to find love. This is a comedy?
Yes, especially at the end, when women play with their men like cats with mice, then welcome them to their beds. However, in Richard Rose's production of "The Merchant from Venice," he forces the play to be funny, adding clever jokes and silliness. It works, but not comfortably; what he adds is not integral to the play, and there's no getting over that feeling.
Phillip Clarkson's costuming tries to make a thematic point by juxtaposing periods, often in the same costume: period pantaloons and a modern logo T-shirt. The women wear bizarre poufy things like something out of "Alice in Wonderland;" poor Sara Topham as Jessica is doomed to float about like a little green puffball. It doesn't work; the period juxtapositions evoke no response beyond mild puzzlement and patient tolerance.
However, the acting, overall, is very strong. Scott Wentworth is touchingly and profoundly serious as Antonio. Bassanio, played by Sean Arbuckle, is energetic and emotional, anxious for love and money in the same package, namely Portia, played with wonderful vulnerability by Severn Thompson.
Graham Greene is problematic as Shylock. His Shylock is blunt and strong, but his work with text is weak; he gabbles through longer lines with little expression.
'The Merchant of Venice'
Stratford Festival of Canada at the Festival Theatre. In repertory, Tues.-Sun., through Oct. 27. Tickets: $60-$125 Canadian. For information: 800-567-1600 or http://www.stratfordfestival.ca
