Michael Billington, The Guardian

April 13, 2014

Peter O’Toole, Patrick Stewart and Antony Sher have all made stunning Shylocks – which versions of this problematic play have you been sold on?

Obviously, The Merchant of Venice poses a problem in the modern world. But I’m struck by how successful it’s been on the postwar stage for two basic reasons: directors increasingly give it a strong social context and realise it’s as much a play about money as race or religion. Best, perhaps, to pick out a defining performance and production from each of the recent decades. […continued]

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