“The Venetians”

Recommended *** Have you ever heard of a playwright mixing up the works and characters from the works of Shakespeare? If you have thought about some of the what ifs? of doing so, you can now find some answers in the new virtual production, a joint venture of the Oak Park Festival Theatre and Kane Repertory Theatre entitled “The Venetians”.  Written by Matt Barbot, this new play brings together  various Shakespearean characters from several different plays and brings them to some of the situations and problems being faced in America during this, the “Covid Era” as well as just the modern times.

Directed by Edward Torres, with a brilliant cast, this virtual production is far too long for most viewers. The first act alone is ninety minutes, so asking someone to sit at a computer screen ( without being paid a salary) is a lotto ask. The intermission is only a minute or two, so be prepared, although cleverly written and well acted, this is one that takes a great deal of concentration. Othello, The Moor ( a wonderful performance by  James Vincent Meredith) wants to give Desdamona (  (Ellen Campbell) a great wedding, but in order to do so must go to Shylock, The Jew ( Lawrence Grimm, as always is dynamite). Shylock, having been a “victim” of the people of Venice, due to the prejudice, sees this as the wrong move for a Moor, and will not give him the loan.

Shylock’s daughter, is also thinking marriage and even conversion, as she is tired of being picked on as “A Jew”. This “crossover” between “The Merchant of Venice” and “The Tragedy of Othello” looks at  the questions o racism , immigration, assimilation and identity and relates to what we have been experiencing in today’s world for generations.

Kane Repertory Theatre’s mission is to use performance to explore values in America. They work to spark conversation, evoke empathy and strengthen the community. This work will do that, although it is difficult when “virtual”.

I believe this would work better “live” and wish it could be today. There were a few tech glitches, but the performers were great and even though this was in fact a “reading” they all appeared to be right on. It was interesting to hear the actors do some Hebrew prayers as well. Quite impressive!

This production will be available for streaming thru the 16th.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at  www.oakparkfestival.com/tickets/

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Venetians”.