Saturday, October 16, 2010

Merchant Sells Hot Broadway Ticket

Merchant Sells Hot Broadway Ticket

On Tuesday, October 19, preview performances commence at the Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre for William Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice. The production famously stars Al Pacino in the title role as Shylock, making this a very tough ticket indeed.

The proverbial pound of flesh now being paid for tickets is particularly ironic given how Daniel Sullivan's revival was first presented in Central Park this summer by the Public Theater for free.

The Internet Broadway Database (IBDB) lists a total of 49 previous New York City productions stetching all the way back to 1768 for what is arguably The Bard's most controversial play. It's particularly provocative due to its depiction of the eponymous character and the ongoing debate over whether that characterization is anti-Semitic. (The play certainly gave me pause when I saw it for my first time a few years ago.)

It's been seven years since Pacino was last on Broadway's boards in another Jewish role as Harod in Salome, one I thought bordered on vile stereotypes. Pacino will be joined in The Merchant Of Venice by a large cast including Lily Rabe as Portia, Byron Jennings as Antonio, Jesse L. Martin as Gratiano, Christopher Fitzgerald as Launcelot and Charles Kimbrough as the Prince of Aragon.

The official Merchant Of Venice website describes the show as follows:
The Merchant Of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most thrilling and controversial plays, rich with love and betrayal, forgiveness and revenge. The Jewish moneylender Shylock makes a loan to Antonio, a Christian merchant. Their loan contract, steeped in prejudice and centered on the play's infamous “pound of flesh,” sweeps the two men and everyone in their worlds into chaos. Only the insightful Portia can imagine a way forward, but for her and those she loves, even “the quality of mercy” has its limits.

Despite the lingering controversy over the work, just try getting a decent seat. And with only 78 performances scheduled, you may as well forget about any discounts for the production.

The Merchant Of Venice opens on November 7 and runs through January 9, 2011. (I'll be seeing the show not long after it opens.)

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).


In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.

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posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Saturday, October 16, 2010 0 comments

Monday, July 26, 2010

The Public To Transfer Merchant

The Public To Transfer Merchant


If you're among the throngs of disappointed theatregoers who has been unable to get free tickets to see The Merchant Of Venice in Central Park this summer, you can breathe a little easier.

While it won't necessarily cost you a pound of flesh, these tickets certainly won't be free. After weeks of speculation, the Public Theater just announced it's transferring William Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice to Broadway this fall. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, this production famously stars Al Pacino as Shylock.

The Internet Broadway Database (IBDB) lists a total of 49 previous New York City productions stetching all the way back to 1768 for what is arguably The Bard's most controversial play. It's particularly provocative due to its depiction of the eponymous character and the ongoing debate over whether that characterization is anti-Semitic. (The play certainly gave me pause when I saw it for my first time a few years ago.)

Perhaps that's why it's been nearly 20 years since the last Broadway revival of The Merchant Of Venice. That Tony-nominated revival opened on December 19, 1989, at the 46th Street Theatre (now Richard Rodgers Theatre) and played 84 regular performances. Directed by Peter Hall, starred Dustin Hoffman as Shylock and Geraldine James as Portia. Hall, Hoffman and James would each earn Tony nods for their work.

The Public will produce this transfer at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre, a considerably smaller space than Central Park's Delacorte Theatre. The limited run's performances will commence October 19 and conclude January 9, 2011.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).


In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.

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posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Monday, July 26, 2010 0 comments

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