The Merchant of Venice at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford

The last time I went to see The Merchant of Venice was on 28th May 1988 at The Barbican Theatre, that's twenty seven years ago! Shylock was played by Anthony Sher (who I saw recently in Death of a Salesman), Deborah Findlay played Portia and  Phil Daniels must have been a hilarious Launcelot Gobbo. But the most amazing piece of casting then was a certain Gregory Doran (now Artistic Director of the RSC) as Solanio. 

Last night was a very different production. Modern dress, a very modern staging complete with mirrored floor and back wall and modern speaking of the verse. This is not a nice play and I think this way helped the cut down narrative (two hours ten minutes plus an interval obviously meant chunks were omitted).  We still get Portia's suitors trying to pick the right box (a superb piece of staging as they descend from above a few feet away from my seat), a typical neat Shakespearean diversion but which seems to be from another play altogether. At the back we have giant swinging metal ball counting down to what? Pawnbrokers (or moneylenders) had three golden balls as their sign? Counting down to the day when the debt becomes due?

In the acting department, head and shoulders above the rest of the cast (in acting terms if not stature) stands Patsy Ferran as Portia. Only graduating from RADA last summer she has already won high praise for her parts in Blithe Spirit and Treasure Island. I saw her in October at a quarter full Oxford Playhouse in The Angry Brigade. From that seriously sharp performance I could not see her cast as Portia but she is virtually unrecognisable as the same actress. Her voice this time is so soft and highly pitched but with such marvelous projection we catch every word. Her eyes and hands work magic. This is one actress destined for big things.

Makram J. Khoury, the Palestian playing Shylock is another matter completely. He is undoubtedly a very fine actor and he gives a subtle and understated performance. It's just a shame he mumbled most of his words. However Jamie Ballard was outstanding as Antonio and Brian Protheroe gave us a brilliant cameo as Aragon. Polly Findlay is to be congratulated as director of a very enjoyable and memorable production.