The Merchant of Venice: 'nothing short of gripping'
John Douglas Thompson is 'magisterial' as Shylock in Arin Arbus's vivid production

"It goes without saying that 'The Merchant of Venice' is a desperately difficult play to stage for a 21st century audience," said Joyce McMillan in The Scotsman. Torn between his desire to give all his characters "a credible and persuasive human voice" and the "ingrained antisemitism" of his time, Shakespeare left them "stranded" between "outward romantic comedy and bitter underlying tragedy".
The "great strength" of Arin Arbus's production, first seen in New York, is that it embraces this space "as its own territory", and lays the play out here with "fearless clarity". Set in an American city in the near future – a place of "boozed-up men in suits where today's broligarchs" might feel at home – it has at its heart a "remarkable" performance by the Black actor John Douglas Thompson as Shylock, the Jewish moneylender the Christians need for their business ventures but despise for his faith.
Played with "cool authority", this Shylock is "even-tempered and jovial", said Mark Fisher in The Guardian; and though a darker side lies beneath that "genial surface", it's less a character flaw than the "product of an oppressive culture". Meanwhile Antonio, for instance, comes across as sensitive, generous. With his aura of relaxed affluence, you can imagine he'd help a friend in financial trouble; but he and the other men are used to things going their way. When they do not, "their antisemitic outbursts are poisonous".
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The themes running through this production are bleak ones, said Allan Radcliffe in The Times – "dehumanising racism and uncomfortable male-female relations". With only minor changes to the text, "the play's mix of brutality and comedy are heightened and sharpened here to sometimes shocking effect".
Thompson's performance is "magisterial", said Simon Thompson on What's on Stage. But the whole company bristles with "New World swagger", bringing vivid life – and striking vocal clarity – even to lesser roles. "I can't remember a recent Shakespeare production where the power of the diction drew me in so quickly", while the climactic trial scene is "nothing short of gripping".
The Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh. Until 15 February
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The ‘Shakespearean bitterness’ of the thermostat wars
Talking Point ‘Genuine physiological differences’ mean women and men are at odds over temperatures at home
-
China’s rare earth controls
The Explainer Beijing has shocked Washington with export restrictions on minerals used in most electronics
-
Quiz of The Week: 11 – 17 October
Quiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
Heirs and Graces: an ‘enthralling’ deep dive into the decline of nobility
The Week Recommends Eleanor Doughty explores the ‘bizarre fascination’ with the British aristocracy
-
6 sporty homes with tennis courts
Feature Featuring a clay tennis court in New York and a viewing deck in California
-
Critics’ choice: Seafood in the spotlight
Feature An experimental chef, a newspaper-worthy newcomer, and a dining titan’s fresh spin-off
-
Taylor Swift’s Showgirl: Much glitter, little gold
Feature Swift’s new album has broken records, but critics say she may have gotten herself creatively stuck
-
Theater review: Masquerade
218 W. 57th St., New York City 218 W. 57th St., New York City
-
Film reviews: Roofman and Kiss of the Spider Woman
Feature An escaped felon’s heart threatens to give him away and a prisoner escapes into daydreams of J.Lo.
-
Cyrano de Bergerac: a ‘huge-hearted’ production
The Week Recommends This ‘playful’ and ‘poignant’ rendition brings new life to the ‘gilet-sporting, verse-spouting’ titular soldier
-
I Swear: a ‘warm-hearted’ comedy-drama
The Week Recommends While ‘inescapably hilarious’, the drama also lifts the lid on John Davidson’s experiences with Tourette syndrome