The Merchant Of Venice 1936

The incredible updated adaptation of The Merchant of Venice reached Birmingham last night, arriving at The Rep Theatre for a 4 day run. This retelling by Brigid Larmour and Tracy-Ann Oberman is set in the dark days of London 1936. Britain faced a rising risk from a growing Facist threat, led by Sir Oswald Moseley. The group most at risk from this threat were the Jewish community, and here, at the centre of that community, is the Jewish matriarch and money lender Shylock.

Or Madame Shylock, as she has now become. Tracy-Ann Oberman is absolutely sensational as the money lender betrayed by her own daughter, and determined to get her ‘pound of flesh’ from the financially ruined merchant (and Blackshirt) Antonio. Her performance is visceral and powerful, particularly during the important ‘Hath not a Jew eyes speech.’

Shylock aside, many elements of Shakespeare’s tale remain the same. The central story of Antonio borrowing the 3,000 duckets so Bassanio (Gavin Fowler) can woo the beautiful Portia is there, but there is now a definite undercurrent of unrequited romantic feelings from the Merchant to his younger friend. Portia testing her suitors in order to ensnare her true love is sweet and funny, but her clear anti semitic treatment of Lorenzo’s Jewish love, Shylock’s daughter Jessica, is unsettling. Portrayed by the elegant Georgie Fellows as a prototype Diana Mitford/Moseley, Portia is clever and conniving and always memorable but also utterly chilling.

Joseph Millson is very good as the Merchant giving the role the complexity it needs in our modern times. He’s a honourable man who is prepared to accept his punishment/revenge, but is also capable of acts of malicious anti-semitism. A Blackshirt, right down to his Facist armband.

The use of British Facist imagery combined with contemporary newspaper headlines is a stark and brilliant reminder that this was so terrifyingly real. The ending, however, which shows how the people of the East End joined together to keep the Facists from marching on Cable Street is certainly far more uplifting than what Shakespeare himself suggested. It also echoes current fears and events, showing that, even 500 + years after the original play was written, the issues raised in The Merchant of Venice are still as topical and relevant today.