Al Pacino - Spectacular! A short review of the Merchant of Venice

The Jewish banker, Shylock, was incredibly alive in Al Pacino’s performance at Broadway last night, which made the 3-hour play go fast.

The play, at the Broadhurst Theatre, a quite small theatre at 44^th Street, had its stage well designed. The round dark steel framed scenario easily interchanged the atmospheres of Venice and Genoa, by moving the fences along and using the colors of the costumes.

The presence of Al Pacino at the stage was heavy, bringing with him all of its greed character. His revenge against the catholic merchant flowered as his lines were spoken.  Byron Jennings played Antonio, the Venetian Merchant, which was a really intense performance reaching its peak when Antonio got bankrupted.

The role of Bassanio was made by David Harbour. He acted with too many gestures, as if he need that to demonstrate his feelings. I wasn’t able to count how many times he move his hand to his mouth as if he was surprised or sad.

Among all the controversies and discussions about the relationship of Antonio and Bassanio, Daniel Sullivan chose to present a very close one, even suggesting the homosexuality of Antonio. 

Charles Kimbrough, as prince of Aragon, had a great presence, and it was a really nice surprise, giving the comedy, as expected by the play.

And, at last, Lily Rabe was wonderful as Portia, giving all the strength that her character needed, playing with men, as with they were sometimes stupid.

The play does worth for Al Pacino himself. He has a great presence, and he even knows how to silence himself in order to give a space to the other (as during the judgment of the foreclosure of the bond).

Regardless the interpretation of the contract entered into by Shylock and Antonio, which perhaps made the “Merchant of Venice” so famous, by which Shylock were allowed to take the flesh of Antonio but not to spill a single drop of blood, the play really stressed the women’s strength. It is Portia who is responsible to conduce for that end, as well to make Jessica (Shylock’s Daughter) realize the importance and the meaning of love. Where all the men were occupied thinking about money and religion, and at the same time the decision had to be according with the Venetian precedents, she was the only one able to give an answer. We can see the respect of freedom of contract; at the same time it allowed us to find a fair judgment.