"Merchant Plying Its Wares in Davenport"
Daily Dispatch article by Julie Jensen
The Prenzie Players have moved to a new venue for their latest show. They'll be performing Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” in the Village Theatre, the former Turner's Club in the Village of East Davenport.
Cait Bodenbender,director, says the company -- which has popped up all over the place -- “will use the thrust stage and bring the audience right up to the edge. An aisle around it will be the streets of Venice.
"This will be different from past productions," she said. "It’s a challenging play to put on, and I think it will be a great show.”
The story is about Bassanio, an improvident young noble who is in love with Portia, a beauty wooed by distinguished men from all over the world. He needs money to fund his suit and applies to Antonio, a wealthy merchant, for a loan.
Antonio’s funds are tied up in his merchandise-laden ships at sea, so he gets the money for Bassanio from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. The deal is that Antonio will forfeit one pound of flesh cut from his body if he doesn’t make good on the loan.
Portia has her suitors choose one of three caskets; the man who selects the one holding her picture will win her. The Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Aragon are losers, but Portia gives Bassanio a hint of the one to choose, and he claims her as his bride. Bassanio’s friend, Gratiano, loves Portia’s companion, Nerissa, and another friend, Lorenzo, has married Jessica, Shylock’s daughter.
Word is received that Antonio’s ships have sunk, and he is ruined. The pound of flesh must be paid.
Portia disguises herself as a learned judge, with Nerissa as her clerk, and the case is tried. It seems to be in favor of Shylock, but as he approaches Antonio with a sharp knife, Portia warns him that no blood may be shed.
Aaron Sullivan will play Shylock, J.C. Luxton is Bassanio, Andy Koski is Antonio, Maggie Woolley is Portia, Jaci Entwisle is Nerissa, Angela Rathman plays Guinevere and Gobbo, Andy Lord is Lorenzo, Matt Moody is Gratiano, Anne Javaherian is Salania, and Stephanie Moeller is Salarina. Beth Woolley is Jessica, Shylock’s daughter.
James Palagi plays four parts: the Prince of Morocco, the jailer, the Duke of Venice, and Balthazar. Anthony Anderson also plays multiple roles: the Prince of Aragon, old Gobbo, Tubal, and Stephano.
Among the familiar lines from the play is Shylock’s question, “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”
Also, “The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”
Jeremy Mahr is assistant director. Costuming for the play was designed by Anne Javaherian.
The Prenzies' seventh season continues with a Twelfth Night Gala in January, “Much Ado About Nothing” in late winter, and “The Trojan Women” in the spring.
-- If you go
-- What: Prenzie Players’ “The Merchant of Venice.”
-- When: 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday and Oct. 24-26. Doors open at 7:30, and there's always some preliminary action at a Prenzie show.
-- Where: The Village Theatre, 2113 E. 11th St., Village of East Davenport.
-- Tickets: $8, available at the door.