Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group Inc.
Author: William Shakespeare
Director: Roderick Chappel
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis
Antonio, a prosperous merchant of Venice in the sixteenth century, is approached by his old friend Bassanio for a loan. Bassanio wishes to present himself in style and travel to Belmont, in order to woo Portia, a young and beautiful heiress. Antonio’s fortune is currently tied up in his trading ships, and he does not have the required funds in hand. However, he agrees to act as guarantor, if Bassanio can borrow the money elsewhere. Bassanio approaches Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Shylock hates Antonio, who has always treated him with contempt because he is Jewish, and because he charges interest on money that he lends. However, Shylock agrees to loan Bassanio 3000 ducats, to be repaid in three months. Pretending that it is a mere jest, he specifies that the penalty for failure to pay on time will be a pound of Antonio’s flesh, cut from his breast. Confident that his ships will return to Venice in good time so that the debt can be repaid, Antonio accepts this condition for the bond.
Shylock’s daughter Jessica elopes with Lorenzo, fleeing her father’s house with much of her father’s money, with the intention of becoming a Christian. Shylock is furious at the loss of both his daughter and his ducats.
Under the terms of her late father’s will, no suitor may marry Portia unless they choose correctly between three caskets, made respectively of gold, silver and lead. Portia complains to Nerissa, her maid and confidant, about her lack of freedom to make her own choice of husband. Unsuccessful suitors choose wrongly, and go disappointed away. Bassanio, with his young friend Gratiano, sails to Belmont, where Bassanio chooses the correct casket, to Portia’s delight. Portia and Bassanio prepare to marry, as do Nerissa and Gratiano.
News comes to Belmont that Antonio’s ships have been unexpectedly delayed; he cannot repay the loan on time, and Shylock will demand his pound of flesh at the Duke of Venice’s court. Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as men – a learned lawyer and her clerk – and travel to Venice, where Portia uses brilliant legal argument to confound Shylock’s malicious intentions, and save Antonio’s life.
After the trial Portia and Nerissa, still disguised, will accept no payment, but each asks only for a ring which she has given her husband, who has sworn never to part with it. Bassanio and Gratiano very reluctantly give the lawyer and clerk these precious rings. Portia and Nerissa later have fun upbraiding their husbands for giving away the rings, before the deception is revealed and all ends happily.
Characters
Characters Summary:
3-8 F
11-16 M
Characters Description:
Characters for individual actors:
Antonio (M), the Merchant of Venice. Age flexible, mature personality, serious and good natured.
Salarino (M or F), Antonio’s friend, helps develop the story. Age flexible.
Salanio (M or F), Antonio’s friend, helps develop the story. Age flexible.
Portia (F), a young heiress. The largest role in the play: confident, articulate, passionate, bold, creative and fun-loving.
Nerissa (F), Portia’s young maid, and trusted companion. She is lively and confident, and a tease.
Bassanio (M), Antonio’s good friend, young to early middle aged. Positive, forthright and outgoing. He woos and marries Portia.
Gratiano (M), youthful, eloquent, and playful. He marries Nerissa.
Shylock (M), A Jewish money lender, middle aged or older. The largest male part in the play, and one of the great Shakespearian roles. The villain of the story, and full of malice, but he is also shown to be intensely human.
Jessica (F), Shylock’s daughter. She is light-hearted and adventurous, and rebels against her father by eloping with Lorenzo.
Lorenzo (M), Antonio’s young, eloquent and daring friend. He elopes with Jessica.
Launcelot Gobbo (M), mischievous young servant of Shylock. The character exists to add humour to the play.
Characters appearing in only one or two scenes:
Duke of Venice (M), an authoritative leader, presiding over the ducal court. A major character in one long scene.
Old Gobbo (M), Launcelot’s aged father. A humorous cameo.
Tubal (M), a rich Jewish merchant. Middle aged or older.
Prince of Morocco (M), an unsuccessful suitor for Portia’s hand. Age flexible.
Prince of Arragon (M), an unsuccessful suitor for Portia’s hand. Age flexible.
Precast Characters:
None
Audition Venue & Dates
Audition Dates and Times:
7:30pm on:
- Mon 24th May 2021
- Tue 25th May 2021
Audition Venue Name: Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG)
Audition Venue Address:
Strathmore Community Hall
Cnr Loeman and Napier Streets
STRATHMORE
Audition Enquiries Contact: Roderick Chappel (Director) 97180486 - roderickchappel@ozemail.com.au
Performances
Season Dates: 12 Aug 2021 - 28 Aug 2021
Showtimes:
2:00pm on:
- Sun 15th Aug 2021
- Sun 22nd Aug 2021
8:00pm on:
- Thu 12th Aug 2021
- Fri 13th Aug 2021
- Sat 14th Aug 2021
- Thu 19th Aug 2021
- Fri 20th Aug 2021
- Sat 21st Aug 2021
- Thu 26th Aug 2021
- Fri 27th Aug 2021
- Sat 28th Aug 2021
More info
Other Information
Other Information:
The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s best loved plays. This production is to be set in the original sixteenth century, with period costumes.
The play has approximately 23 named characters, and 11 major roles that need to be played by individual actors. Five other characters are significant but appear in only one or two of the scenes, and it would be possible for one actor to play more than of these roles. Two roles that are nominally male could be played by either a man or a woman.
Auditions will be open, reading from sections of the script, and there is no requirement to learn or prepare anything in advance. It will be of assistance if candidates who have auditioned remain at their audition session to read against other candidates.
If you wish to audition, but are unable to make the above-mentioned dates, please get in touch as we may be able to accommodate other dates.
Please ring or email the Director to book into one of the audition sessions, or with any questions. Audition pieces can be emailed on request. The script, which has been trimmed somewhat, can also be emailed on request.
Minor roles: In addition to the characters listed below, two or three actors are needed to (a) assist the Stage Manager and (b) appear in minor roles such as the gaoler, the clerk, or servants, or as entourage in some scenes. If interested in one of these roles, please read for any part, or otherwise contact the Director.
The full cast may number about 16 or 17, depending on the outcome of the auditions.
