Posted on September 20, 2007
Some people may say that the memory of Shakespeare is dead and far gone, but on Monday night, Shakespeare was brought back to life by the extraordinary acting by the Stratford Players.
Theater II kicked off the fall semester with the production of “The Merchant of Venice,” and before it even began, the crowd was already buzzing. The sizeable audience that packed the small black-box theater hurried to get their seats, eager with anticipation for the first play.
“The Merchant of Venice” is an entertaining comedy that involves a Christian merchant named Antonio, played by senior Natasha Solomon, and a Jewish merchant, Shylock, played by senior Heather Magnotti, that agree to a pact in order to solve a financial hardship in which Antonio has found himself. However, if Antonio does not repay Shylock, the consequences are dire. The story also includes a comedic tale of a girl named Portia, played by junior Jesika Hayes, and her methods of marriage. “Merchant” is often overlooked by other Shakespearean masterpieces but is definitely a must-see.
With only a month to prepare, a lot of skepticism was evident pertaining to whether the actors were ready to take on the Shakespearean challenge.
“We have been rehearsing since the 25th of August,” said junior Juli Tarabek, director of the production before the show. “They have been ready for about a week. They are going to be amazing.”
Tarabek certainly knew her actors well because as soon as they started the first scene, the audience was captivated. The opening scene was filled with perfect diction, great projection and humorous anecdotes by sophomore Brandon Shockney, who played Gratiano. Right away, you could feel the presence of a strong chemistry between the cast in the homely setting of the theater.
“We all got really close,” said junior Lauren Miscioscia, playing the part of Jessica. “We work so well together.”
This strong bond formed quickly, according to Tarabek, who noticed it right away.
“I couldn’t have asked for a more amazing cast,” she said. “They gelled right away and since day one have been holding each other up keeping away from problems.”
Convincing acting was displayed throughout the play, especially by Heather Magnotti, who pierced the audience’s skin with the evil personality of Shylock. Magnotti took the crowd’s breath away quickly during a soliloquy she delivered in which she revealed her grudge against Antonio.
Humorous scenes included the wild personality of Launcelot, played by sophomore Jamie Loving, the servant to Shylok. These icebreakers gave the audience a chance to relax in the midst of serious scenes, and gave them something to laugh about. Loving displayed a wide variety of comedic gestures and left the audience in stitches.
The play, since performed in such a small, tight parameter, invites the audience to be part of the action. Characters are forced to use all the space in the theater, so depending on where one is sitting, they may be part of the play.
Finally, the play itself may scare off some people because of its diverse Shakespearean language. However, the actors do a great job using their body language, and speech to explain what is meant, even if one gets lost in the language.
“When I cast [the play] I was looking for actors that had experience with Shakespeare or had a natural knack,” Tarabek said. “They took to it like birds to water…it was just a matter of getting through the subtleties and different shades of the language.” With such great speech and acting it was difficult to get lost in the midst of the play.
On the flipside, there was not much criticism for the play. Occasionally, the actors would speak too fast, and combined with the Shakespearean language, it would be difficult to follow. However, this was corrected almost instantly after it was done.
The play continues performances throughout the week, except on Friday, at 8 p.m. in Theatre II. There is also a midnight showing Saturday night. Tickets are $3 and can be purchased at the door.
To go or not to go; that is the question. Oh wait. Wrong play.
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