{"id":1439,"date":"2012-07-25T18:01:22","date_gmt":"2012-07-25T18:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=1439"},"modified":"2012-07-25T18:01:22","modified_gmt":"2012-07-25T18:01:22","slug":"the-merchant-of-venice-smart-funny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/the-merchant-of-venice-smart-funny\/","title":{"rendered":"THE MERCHANT OF VENICE – “SMART -FUNNY!”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
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Matt Gunnison, Brian Matin, Catz Forsman (on Hi-rise), Ryan Hayes and Dash Hilman. Photo: Jay Yamada<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE — “FRESH – SURPRISING”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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ACUTE PLEASURE, EVEN JOY! <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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Let\u2019s give The Custom Made Theatre hands together for mounting this new take on \u201cThe Merchant\u201d. The modern dress of the actors is not the style of today, but it is the style of the 50\u2019s where Cigarettes lit up in offices and the men were always looking to hit on one of the Sexy Women that do the slink walk. By the way \u2013 in this updated version men also hit on men. As Judy Garland might say: \u201cOh My!\u201d Yes, in this newer world \u2013 you could call the play \u201cThe Merchants of Wall Street!<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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The Shakespeare play of course, was categorized as \u2018a comedy\u2019. Yes, it is \u2013 and it is also a tragedy. Why? \u2013 Because it\u2019s about an arrogant and rich Jewish man who is despised, by Christian citizens of Venice. Hey, they\u2019re just trying to up the Ante when it comes to money. After all, it\u2019s all business. And in this flashy show \u2013 that\u2019s all they ever think about. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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Problems arise when a friend, who lacks immediate Cash, turns to Shylock (the Jew), who makes the loan. Shylock forces Antonio to agree to yield a pound of flesh if he doesn\u2019t cough up the money. Shylock is not amused when Antonio can\u2019t come up with the cash and he threatens Antonio. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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There are many lingering images in this fine production.\u00a0 \u2018Shylock\u201d (the Jew) is both wronged and overcome by his own dealings. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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Here\u2019s the bottom line of the story. It\u2019s about men who pull sneaky and troubling tricks between the moneylender and a businessman. Comedy perhaps? \u2013 But, it also, is very heavy on the arrogant and sneaky. And Shakespeare might even say: Oh, it was \u2018Much Ado about nothing.\u2019 Well, actually \u2013 that is the title of one of his many plays. Just checking to make sure that you already knew that. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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HERE IS THE EXCELLENT CAST: Brian Martin, Kim Saunders, Ryan Hayes, Claire Rice, Tonya Narvaez, Dashiell Hillman, Matt Gunnison, Megan Briggs, Molly Holcomb, Catz Forsman, Perry Aliado, Gabriel A. Ross, Stefin Collins, Jean Forsman and Perry Aliado. Great acting by all! The most applause went to CATZ FORSMAN. And, why not? To me, he was the most surprising actor so far this season. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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*Superb Direction by Stuart Bousel<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
Sarah Phykitt \u2013 Terrific Scenic Design. Excellent Costume Design by Tim Malko Fabulous Lighting Design by Maxx Kurzunski and wonderful Sound Design by Ryan Lee Short. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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Now Playing at the Custom Made Theatre on Gough Street. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! \u2013trademarked-\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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\n<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
and hosted a long-running Arts Segment on PBS-KQED)))<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and he produced a long-running Arts Segment on PBS-KQED))) <\/strong><\/span><\/em>
\n*courtesy: beyondchron<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matt Gunnison, Brian Matin, Catz Forsman (on Hi-rise), Ryan Hayes and Dash Hilman. Photo: Jay Yamada THE MERCHANT OF VENICE — “FRESH – SURPRISING” ACUTE PLEASURE, EVEN JOY! Let\u2019s give…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1439","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-lee-hartgrave"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"