The Merchant of Venice January 30, 2009

The Northwest Classical Theatre Company's 10th Anniversary Season continues with THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare. The play opens Friday January 30th and runs through March 8th (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7pm Sunday at 2pm) at the Shoe Box Theater (2110 SE 10th Ave. Portland, OR 97214). Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for students/seniors. Tickets may be purchased online at the NWCTC Ticket Turtle page (https://www.ticketturtle.com/index.php?theatre=nwctc) or by calling 971-244-3740.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE has been a controversial play, almost since its inception. Producers and actors from Edmund Kean and Henry Irving to Patrick Stewart and Dustin Hoffman have wrestled with the issues presented in this play. Is it Anti-Semitic? Anti-Christian? Is Shylock a villain or are his actions justified? And where exactly should an audience’s sympathies lie?

In a post-Holocaust society, any production of the play will be filtered through a political lens, but the NWCTC has set out, as per their mission statement, to present the play as evenly and balanced as possible. Yes, Shylock does make a bad decision, but one could argue his reactions are provoked by the Christian characters in the play. Does he go too far in his pursuit of revenge or, based on his treatment, does he have every right to demand his “pound of flesh?" That decision is ultimately left to the audience. In order to best allow the audience to make up their own mind, the NWCTC will produce the play in its entirety.

Knowing that THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is a volatile play even in the 21st century, the NWCTC will hold talk back sessions throughout the run with local Jewish community leaders, theatre professionals, and Shakespearean scholars to discuss the play, its meaning (to both Elizabethan audiences and contemporary American audiences), and on the impact that it continues to have. Rabbi Michael Cahana, Nathan Cogan (PSU Professor Emeritus English - Liberal Arts & Sciences), Michael Simon (Lawyer with Perkins Coie), and renowned Shakespearean Scholar Peter Saccio (Dartmouth - Leon D. Black Professor of Shakespearean Studies and Professor of English) will each partake in at least one of the talk back sessions.

Acclaimed local equity actor Michael Mendelson will play Shylock and Kelly Godell will play Portia. Company members Butch Flowers, Melissa Whitney, Jayson Shanafelt, and Rhianna Walton help round out the cast. The play is directed by NWCTC's Artistic Director Grant Turner.

For further information, email us at nwclassical@hotmail.com.

Official Website: http://www.nwctc.org