The Merchant Of Venice w/ TA Oberman - Tour & Trafalgar

[Deleted]

www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/mar/09/tracy-ann-oberman-shylock-merchant-of-venice-trolling

Sounds like it could be be a very interesting production but I wonder when and where it will be?

[lonlad]

Oh please god no .... she's an OK actress but SHYLOCK? on what planet?

[Deleted]

Mar 11, 2019 23:52:54 GMT lonlad said:

Oh please god no .... she's an OK actress but SHYLOCK? on what planet?

I don't think I have seen The Merchant of Venice before, what would be the problem with her playing the role?

[Deleted]

Mar 12, 2019 7:10:53 GMT @ryan said:

Mar 11, 2019 23:52:54 GMT lonlad said:

Oh please god no .... she's an OK actress but SHYLOCK? on what planet?

I don't think I have seen The Merchant of Venice before, what would be the problem with her playing the role?

Genuinely curious...I've seen Merchant several times and can't think of any reason why on paper she isn't a great fit for the role. 


Also given her current court case regarding Anti-Semitism, it's obviously a political statement of sorts on her part taking the role, and one which I fully support, and could be a really interesting production with that context as well.

[altamont]

It's not my favourite play, but this sounds potentially very interesting. I wonder would they change the genders of any of the other characters. Some interesting points made here -

www.thejc.com/culture/theatre/it-wouldn-t-be-a-tragedy-if-shylock-was-a-woman-1.57883

[lynette]

Interesting, a woman moneylender in Renaissance Venice. Not impossible and throwing up or highlighting variations of prejudice. But maybe they will change other genders and also the setting and time etc. She is a good actress, should be allowed a meaty part.

[altamont]

Mar 12, 2019 18:21:37 GMT lynette said:

Interesting, a woman moneylender in Renaissance Venice. Not impossible and throwing up or highlighting variations of prejudice. But maybe they will change other genders and also the setting and time etc. She is a good actress, should be allowed a meaty part.

It's planned to be set in 1930's East End of London

[Deleted]

Mar 12, 2019 18:23:18 GMT altamont said:

Mar 12, 2019 18:21:37 GMT lynette said:

Interesting, a woman moneylender in Renaissance Venice. Not impossible and throwing up or highlighting variations of prejudice. But maybe they will change other genders and also the setting and time etc. She is a good actress, should be allowed a meaty part.

It's planned to be set in 1930's East End of London

Ooh that's a really interesting setting! 

[Phantom of London]

Mar 12, 2019 18:23:18 GMT altamont said:

Mar 12, 2019 18:21:37 GMT lynette said:

Interesting, a woman moneylender in Renaissance Venice. Not impossible and throwing up or highlighting variations of prejudice. But maybe they will change other genders and also the setting and time etc. She is a good actress, should be allowed a meaty part.

It's planned to be set in 1930's East End of London

Pie + Mash + Liquor.

[lynette]

Mar 12, 2019 21:57:52 GMT Phantom of London said:

Mar 12, 2019 18:23:18 GMT altamont said:

It's planned to be set in 1930's East End of London

Pie + Mash + Liquor.

So blackshirts and all that, eh? Might be good. 

[altamont]

At the Nuffield City in Southampton 4th-19th September

[bordeaux]

Mar 12, 2019 8:33:33 GMT @emicardiff said:

Mar 12, 2019 7:10:53 GMT @ryan said:

I don't think I have seen The Merchant of Venice before, what would be the problem with her playing the role?

Genuinely curious...I've seen Merchant several times and can't think of any reason why on paper she isn't a great fit for the role. 


Also given her current court case regarding Anti-Semitism, it's obviously a political statement of sorts on her part taking the role, and one which I fully support, and could be a really interesting production with that context as well.

I don't know her but the issue is presumably how much Shakespeare experience she has?  Has she done several middle-sized roles that would prepare for as challenging a one as Shylock?

[Jan]

At Kingston 3-14 November.

[samuelwhiskers]

She was a member of the RSC ensemble (back when they did ensembles) for two years when she first graduated from drama school. Admittedly she’s done very little Shakespeare professionally but she’s a classically trained actress and has a solid stage CV.

[floorshow]

Tempting if it comes within range. I can't see any reason why she wouldn't be good and a 30s London production adds a bit of spice.

[TallPaul]

Also touring to Leeds Playhouse from 20 to 31 October. This is from its website:

It is London in 1936 – fascism is sweeping across Europe, and Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists is threatening to march through the Jewish East End.

Shylock (Tracy Ann Oberman – Eastenders, Doctor Who, Friday Night Dinner) is a survivor of anti-Semitic pogroms in Russia. A widow, she runs a small business from her dark and cramped terraced house in Cable Street, hoping to give daughter Jessica a better future.

When aristocratic anti-semite Antonio desperately needs a loan, he makes a dangerous bargain with this woman he has spat on in the street. Will Shylock, bitter from a life plagued by racism and abuse, take her revenge?

A vivid evocation of our history, and a warning for our times.

Watford Palace Theatre, Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Rose Theatre, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and Leeds Playhouse present a ground-breaking production of William Shakespeare’s classic The Merchant of Venice.

[lynette]

Looks good.

[david]

I’ll certainly be booking for this when tickets become available for the Liverpool Playhouse. The setting for the production is certainly interesting. The only other version of the play I’ve seen is ironically at the same theatre a few years ago with Jonathan Pyrce as Shylock.

[NeilVHughes]

@theatremonkey will be doing the same.

Strangely, despite being most probably my closest Theatre due to Public Transport being primarily spokes into Central London this is a Theatre which it is easier and quicker to drive to.

[lynette]

Is Watford the nearest to London? I can’t be bothered to drive there.

[samuelwhiskers]

Either Watford or Kingston, depending if you’re in North or South London.

[lynette]

Too faaaar....

[showgirl]

Re venues, don't forget that Watford Jcn has a fast service to/from Euston & amother from East Croydon to Milton Keynes which calls there, avoiding a London change. Just don't get on an all-stations service by mistake as they take an hour, not 15 - 20 minutes. Then a very straightforward brisk 5 - 10 minute walk to the Palace.

[showgirl]

Also, for cheap London area ticket offers: £10 "Secret Seats" at the Rose, Kingston & cheap matinees for seniors at Watford Palace.

[learfan]

Mar 5, 2020 4:32:10 GMT showgirl said:

Re venues, don't forget that Watford Jcn has a fast service to/from Euston & amother from East Croydon to Milton Keynes which calls there, avoiding a London change. Just don't get on an all-stations service by mistake as they take an hour, not 15 - 20 minutes. Then a very straightforward brisk 5 - 10 minute walk to the Palace.

Yes i wondered why everyone was talking about going by tube when the fast train is obviously the best way to get there!