The Merchant of Venice

Taking liberty with time and place, The Porters explore race, class, sexuality and wealth for their six-week run of the Bard’s ultimately tragic comedy.

It begins on February 14, 1961 at the NYSE, where we find Antonio overcome with a sadness undefinable. Despite his lack of liquid assets, he agrees to help his dear friend Bassanio by use of his credit to obtain a loan so that he may travel to Belmont to court the wealthy heiress, Portia. Their last resort and unlikely benefactor is discovered in the rich Jew, Shylock, who offers to take their loan on one condition: that should they fail to pay back the sum within three months, the Jew may take a pound of Antonio’s flesh to settle the loan…