The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare
Antonio, the Merchant of Venice, agrees to lend Bassanio some money so that he can join the suitors for the
hand of Portia, a rich heiress who lives at Belmont. Antonio has to borrow the money himself as all his wealth
is tied up in ships at sea, so goes to Shylock, a Jewish money lender, and agrees to a bond which says that
if Antonio does not repay the money in three months, Shylock may cut a pound of flesh from Antonio.
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Bassanio is successful in winning the hand of Portia by solving the riddle of three caskets,
but when news arrives at Belmont that Antonio has been unable
to pay the debt to Shylock, he returns to Venice. Portia follows him disguised as a lawyer, and in the ensuing trial
manages to defeat Shylock, whose bond does not entitle him to take any of Antonio's blood.
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"The Merchant of Venice" - Set design
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The set for this production was a simple, flexible, all-purpose arrangement of rostra and flats which allowed
the shifts in location between Venice and Belmont to be accomplished in the minimum time. The flats were painted
with a series of over-arching, gold bands above a cream marble wall, with marble and glod steps up to the central
rostrum, which served for entrances and as the base for the Duke's throne in the trial scene. Atmospheric lighting
was also used to indicate changes in location.
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The costumes were of the Renaissance period, with colour used to differentiate the two main locations. Venice,
the city of merchants and money lenders, was characterised by gold and colours from the hot end of the spectrum,
while Belmont, a more serene and spiritual place, had silver and cooler colours.
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