The Merchant of Venice: Stage vs. Film

The Merchant of Venice: Stage vs. Film

The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare is a play of hatred and racism. In this play, it specifically follows the journey of Christianity versus Judaism. The Merchant of Venice, runs at the University of Northern Colorado from April 23-25 and May 1-3, 2009. The play at UNC is set in 1600 in Venice and Belmont, Italy. During this time, Italy is racist towards the Jewish people. Showing their hatred the Italian people would lock the Jewish people up in Ghettos’ every night. The Merchant of Venice, has issues the United States and other countries around the world still encounter today. The characters in this show can be anyone who encompasses hatred for others who are different from themselves. This show is a mirror to human behavior and emotions. It is interesting to see how a Shakespeare play still has an effect on society today. Comparing the stage version to the movie version is also interesting; there are a few differences, but also many similarities in script, characters, and staging.

The script in the movie and the stage version are very similar. Since William Shakespeare is so well known, and is completely a classic playwright, the writing in his shows stays the same. William Shakespeare writes in Prose and Iambic Pentameter. Nerissa speaks Prose in this play and everyone else speaks in Iambic Pentameter. The script in the movie and the stage are completely the same. The only difference is the staged show had a few different cuts then what the movie expresses. Tracy Salter, who directs The Merchant of Venice, at UNC, made very good cuts on the show. Watching the show, the audience stays attentive and drawn in to the world of the play. It is difficult to feel that way while watching a movie. The difference with watching The Merchant of Venice on a television verses on stage is simple. With one, a small box displays what has been filmed and edited to portray a certain meaning. With the other, it is right in front of you on stage. Each audience member can make their own interpretation of the lines and discover their own meaning. Someone may completely see the theme of hatred and racism. Whereas, others may discover the themes of friendship and true love or the important search for justice and mercy. The script reveals the themes. Seeing a Shakespearean play on stage enhances the language William Shakespeare wrote. Seeing a movie of a Shakespearean play diminishes the language. It just is not the same hearing the language live versus on the screen. Hearing the language and seeing acting right in front of you, is more effective, because you can react to what you see with everyone else giving you a heightened experience. The audience and you are seeing this for the first time, and everything is always enhanced when seeing it for the first time; not knowing what to expect.

The characters in the movie, script, and stage show are surprisingly all similar. There are qualities that are enhanced and diminished within the movie and the play, and each character portrays them. Watching the movie, the character of Portia comes to mind. In the movie, she is a fair skinned girl, who is preparing to get married to a suitor who “chooses” the right chest that hopefully contains a portrait of herself. The suitor must find her counterpart. It was interesting to see the similarities between Amanda Clark in the UNC staged version and the girl in the movie. Amanda also has fair skin and has a similar strawberry blonde hair color. With how Tracy Salter, cast the show it is crazy to see the resemblance some characters had to the movie. In ways, this diminishes the play, because the characters are so similar, however, in this case it enhances the play. People who have seen the movie version, and then see The Merchant of Venice staged will enjoy the show more, because the characters are similar and thus more relatable. Audience members may feel that they know the characters more, because of what they have seen before. The character of Launcelot Gobbo in the movie is diminished. He however, is enhanced on the stage. Greyson Lewis who plays Launcelot, is a tall, thin guy. Greyson is an amazing actor, and can physically become the actor. He also uses a different voice inflection to portray a character that is of lower class then the rest. Launcelot Gobbo in the staged performance is extremely remembered. He is so out there, that the audience grasps on to the unfamiliarity that is Greyson’s character. The character of Shylock was spectacular in both the movie and staged performance. In the movie, Al Pacino, played the role of Shylock and in the staged performance, Director of the School of Theatre Arts and Dance, David Grapes plays Shylock. Al Pacino portrayed the role of Shylock with commitment and passion. Watching him in the court scene was phenomenal, because it was so clear that all he cared about was furthering his business and gaining money. He does not even realize that his own daughter Jessica has left him to be with her true love. Even when he notices, he does not fight to make amends with her; he goes on to court trying to gain back what he lost financially. David Grapes portrays the character very well too. Not only with a physical walk that is different from his normal everyday walk, but he was mentally focused in the character. David Grapes and Al Pacino had a similar “look.” They both wore the red hats which at that time emphasized the fact the Shylock is Jewish. They also were similar in the way they spoke the lines. Of course, the script was the same, however, these two actors knew what Shylock overall desired, which made their characters in the way they were acting similar. Each actor enhances the character of Shylock in their own way.

The staging of The Merchant of Venice, is completely different. The movie is filmed and the UNC version is acted. The show at UNC takes place on one set, whereas the film version is clearly filmed in different locations. Shylocks house, Portia’s house, everything is seen, and in a way that enhances the script. Seeing the different settings for each character allows the audience to see the world that each character lives in. At the same time, one may think that the staged version diminishes the ability of seeing the different settings of the play. Some audience members may want to be given all the information, and not have to use their own imaginations, but that is what is needed when seeing a Shakespearian show live. Everything is enhanced in person, however, in this case there are things that worked and that did not work. The film version was more visually appealing then the staged version. Both have wonderful costumes that are appropriate to the period that both portray. The costumes done by Anne Toewe in the UNC performance were gorgeous and amazing. They were definitely enhanced seeing them in person versus on the screen. Seeing the different types of fabrics and the details that each costume possessed was outstanding, and consequently are diminished in the film. Michael Radford and Tracy Salter the directors of The Merchant of Venice obviously directed the shows differently, one was on stage and one was on film.

The Merchant of Venice, is a great show, and the University of Northern Colorado’s production of it is spectacular. The movie that was filmed in 2004, is also well done. The cast of the movie and the cast of the show did an amazing job. Memorizing and speaking Shakespeare is not always the easiest thing in the world. It takes a bit more time to become familiar with the language and feeling confident to speak. They did wonderfully and conveying to the audience the meaning of the language as well. If given the chance to see Shakespeare either on screen or in live theatre, take that opportunity. It is so rewarding.