The Merchant of Venice

Producer SNG Drama Ljubljana
Opening: 5. 3. 2011 Veliki oder, SNG Drama Ljubljana
Running time 2 hours 30 minutes. One interval.
 

Translator Milan Jesih
Director Eduard Miler
Adaptation and dramaturgy by Žanina Mirčevska
Set designer Branko Hojnik
Costume designer Jelena Proković
Language consultant Tatjana Stanič
Choreographer Jana Menger
Music selection Eduard Miler
Make-up designer Ana Lazovski
Lighting designer Milan Podlogar
Assistant language consultant Tea Konte

Cast
The Duke of Venice Zvone Hribar
The Prince of Morocco, suitor to Portia Gorazd Logar
The Prince of Aragon, suitor to Portia Aljaž Jovanović
Antonio, a Merchant of Venice Alojz Svete
Bassanio, his friend, and suitor to Portia Marko Mandić
Gratiano, friend to Antonio and Bassanio Rok Vihar
Lorenzo, in love with Jessica Klemen Slakonja
Shylock, a Jew Igor Samobor
Tubal, a Jew, his friend Matija Rozman/Gorazd Logar
Launcelot, servant to Shylock Gregor Baković
Portia, an heiress, of Belmont Nataša Barbara Gračner
Nerissa, her waiting-woman Nina Ivanišin
Jessica, daughter to Shylock Saša Mihelčič

In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare masterfully delves into a multitude of complex relationships among social classes and religions. "The Merchant of Venice,” Antonio, borrows three thousand ducats from the wealthy Jew, Shylock, in order to help his friend Bassanio in his love adventure. Antonio, however, soon finds himself in a financial crisis, so he owes, according to the agreement, "a pound of flesh” to the moneylender. Despite complaints at court, Shylock relentlessly adheres to his demand. The knives are out, and it seems that nothing short of a miracle can save Antonio. Surprising coincidences, momentous changes on the stage and tense action are underpinned by a strong, socially critical component through which Shakespeare poses questions, still topical even today, about revenge, religious intolerance, the power of money, greed and women's emancipation. These are the questions that also form the basis of Eduard Miller's The Merchant of Venice. It eschews simple interpretation of the original text and develops a new sensibility, accurately portioning the fantasy of reality.