Merchant of Venice "is a tough sell"
by Jeff Dick
Not for the uninitiated, the Prenzie Players' modernized take on "The Merchant of Venice" may be better appreciated by those already familiar with Shakepeare's work and/or the maverick theatre troupe, which has moved into the Village Theatre in Davenport.
The play -- about a Venetian merchant named Antonio (Andy Koski), who finds himself indebted to a Jewish moneylender, Shylock (Aaron Sullivan), after securing a loan for a young nobleman, Bassanio (J.C. Luxton), so he can marry a rich heiress, Portia (Maggie Woolley) -- is a complicated one.
For starters, there are more than a dozen characters -- with several actors playing more than one role -- and numerous scene changes. But what really makes getting into the show challenging is the Prenzie Players' approach to the material.
Rather than "present" the play in a conventional style that emphasizes dramatic acting, or relying on staging that keeps performers facing the audience as much as possible, director Cait Bodenbender goes more for a "eavesdropping" approach. Here the audience members are witnesses to the action. In fact, sometimes they're a part of it -- as when one character drops into the lap of someone in the front row.
This kind of realistic style has its share of drawbacks, not the least of which are auditory. Niceties like attention to vocal projection are out the window, so picking up on all the dialogue is a real strain. If the actors were miked, this gambit might pay off. But they aren't, and too often it doesn't.
The program notes point out that the flowing white drapes wrapped around the theatrical space were purchased to reduce the "echo effect" the Prenzie Players were plagued by in their previous venues. While that may the case, the acoustics at the Village Theatre still are less than ideal, and the low hum emitted by the lighting system doesn't help matters.
Sight lines are an issue, too, because actors occasionally venture well into the audience space, and the heads of patrons block the view.
Judging by the response of many in the audience at last Friday's performance, such logistics didn't interfere with their enjoyment. And indeed, there were some forceful moments that broke through these distractions, including Shylock's "If you prick us, do we not bleed?" entreaty, as well as the harrowing moment when his knife threatens to exact a pound of flesh from a barechested Antonio.
Given the hurried pace of the show, and the actors having to quickly move set pieces offstage and on between scenes, the Prenzie Players at times seem like the Frenzie(d) Players. But for lovers of The Bard in the mood for, as Monty Python would say, "something completely different," this may be their cup of mead.
If you go
-- What: Prenzie Players' "The Merchant of Venice" (Shakespeare drama).
-- When: 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday (doors open at 7:30).
-- Where: Village Theatre, 2113 E. 11th St., Davenport.
-- Tickets: $8 at the door.