Review: The Merchant of Venice at the Roman Theatre

These are the major changes to be found at the Roman Theatre of Verulamium where OVO is putting on The Merchant of Venice. 

Interestingly, unlike many of OVO’s productions of Shakespeare plays, it sticks closely to the Bard’s script. 

And while the music is modern as is the set and costumes, it rarely veers far from the original. 

Of course there are light-hearted touches – among Portia’s suitors are the Prince of Harpenden and the Prince of Trowley Bottom. 

Jilly Bond as Shylock in the Merchant of Venice (Image: Elliott Franks)

And the actor tasked with portraying the suitors, Hassan Maarfi, aka Gratiano one of the City of London’s financial whizzkids, is wonderfully humorous and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. 

When the man of Portia’s dreams appears, Bassanio, the actress taking the role of the heiress, Taya Ming, shows her comedic skills as she ‘hints’ at what box to open to win her hand. 

Later, she demonstrates her versatility with her handling of the famous ‘Quality of Mercy’ speech and subsequent courtroom appearance. 

On the whole this is Shakespeare as it was written and it adapts remarkably well to its change of period and location. 

Perhaps the frequent sniffing of cocaine was a bit overdone but what I thought might be the most difficult change to accept, the transition of Shylock from a man in the original to a woman in this version was pretty well seamless. 

Director Kelly Ann Stewart, who also adapted the play, explains in the programme notes that once she had decided to locate the story in Canary Wharf, it was clear that Shylock had to be a woman. 

And while it is true as she says that a woman playing Shylock would face isolation and be discriminated against because of her gender as well as her faith, the sheer nastiness of everyone’s reaction to Shylock being Jewish is enough on its own regardless of sex. 

Having said that, Jilly Bond gives a fabulous performance as Shylock that completely knocks any thoughts of the moneylender in his traditional flowing robes and long beard out of the window. 

And the frequent use of the scathing word Jew flung at her serves to emphasise how difficult life is for many of that faith, particularly in this day and age. 

The eight-strong cast are all as good in their roles as you would expect from OVO and they richly deserved the standing ovation they received at the end of Thursday’s performance. 

The Merchant of Venice runs until August 11 at the Roman Theatre in Verulamium and tickets and further information can be found at www.ovo.org.uk.