"THE MERCHANT OF VENICE"
sir,-Your contributor "S.F.J.," in spreading himself on a criticism of the actors in the New Zealand Players’ production of The Merchant of Venice, dismissed in half a line its most significant fault, "its overall lack of unity." The Merchant of Venice is one of the most absurd and unreal of Shakespeare’s plays. It falls to pieces if it is played as a serious piece of theatre. If we are asked to watch the story, it then looks like what it is-a corny melodrama. The producer of this play must give to it a fresh flavour, playing down the melodrama (as Mr Trevor does in his one-man production). When the excellent opening of Mr Campion’s production deliberately tried to capture the busyness of a seaport, I thought that he was going to do just this. And what a good idea it would have been if it had been played as a merchants’ play with all the flavour of maritime business! In this framework the lyrical romantic scenes would have had the added appeal of surprise, But after the opening scene, Mr Campion completely dropped this suggestion and played for the melodrama, giving us a ranting Morocco, a daughter inviting us to applaud her Stealing her father’s money, a hate-in-spired Shylock pointing his knife at a bared bosom (but we knew judgment was coming!) and a Portia dealing out Christian vengeance on the nasty Jew. By playing up the rubbish in the play he kept us from the many good things. On only two occasions, Bassanio’s choosing scene, and Act 5, Scene 1, up to Bassanio’s entrance, were we allowed to glimpse some of the delights. The backdrop and the lovely white and gold curtains were beautifully conceived and used, but their effect was partially spoilt by the "bitsy" scenery of the opening act. The simplicity of the casket setting was in good contrast, but why the commode-like stands for the caskets? Finally, I still continue to hope that one of these days the Players will discover the beauty of Shakespeare’s lines.
W. K.
McILROY
(Feilding).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19570322.2.21.2
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 919, 22 March 1957, Page 11
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348"THE MERCHANT OF VENICE" New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 919, 22 March 1957, Page 11
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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