Ivan Golyak—the Jewish director behind the heartbreaking Our Class, staged at the Brooklyn Academy of Music before a Manhattan transfer—is gearing up for the premiere of his next production, a contemporary take on William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.
Set to debut at Classic Stage Company at 136 East 13th Street by Third Avenue tonight, the nearly three-hours-long show will run through December 22 and star a large part of the cast members that appeared in Our Class, including Richard Topol as Shylock, a Venetian Jewish moneylender and the play’s villain, and Alexandra Silber as Portia, a wealthy, non-Jewish heiress.
Perhaps the most recognizable cast member, though, is T.R. Knight, of Grey’s Anatomy fame, who takes on the role of Antonio, the merchant who defaults on a loan that he takes out from Shylock on behalf of his friend Bassanio.
Shakespeare’s original text has been the subject of scholarly analysis for centuries, with many pointing to its clear antisemitic tropes as tacit approval of such attitudes. Other experts argue that the playwright was, in fact, highlighting negative aspects of the time’s society that he didn’t necessarily agree with. What is certain is that, during Shakespeare’s time, Jews were vilified and often forced into certain professions, such as moneylending, that they may not have otherwise chosen.
Golyak’s interpretation of the play seeks to interrogate these stereotypes while also commenting on the rise of antisemitism in today’s world. By reimagining the text with a contemporary twist, both in form and function, this version of The Merchant of Venice borders on the comedic. It incorporates elements like physical theater, satire, and modern references to push the audience to confront their own potential biases. In many ways, the production serves as a meta-theatrical commentary: meaning it draws attention to its own theatricality and the nature of performance itself, inviting the audience to reflect on how theater shapes and challenges societal perceptions.
