The Merchant of Venice [Hardcover]

Full text of the play and thorough account of its performance history.No play ever written owns as rich and varied a stage history as The Merchant of Venice. For over four hundred years it has aroused controversy. This edition is the first to offer a comprehensive account of the Merchant in performance. The introduction challenges many of the preconceptions associated with the play, showing how historical events and cultural attitudes have shaped actors' interpretations and audience responses. The commentary describes how actors, directors and designers have approached the play from the first performances in the 1590s to the present day.No play ever written owns as rich and varied a stage history as The Merchant of Venice. For over four hundred years it has aroused controversy. This edition is the first to offer a comprehensive account of the Merchant in performance. The introduction challenges many of the preconceptions associated with the play, showing how historical events and cultural attitudes have shaped actors' interpretations and audience responses. The commentary describes how actors, directors and designers have approached the play from the first performances in the 1590s to the present day.The Merchant of Venice has had a rich and varied stage history. It has aroused controversy for over four hundred years. The introduction to this edition challenges many of the preconceptions associated with the play, showing how historical events and cultural attitudes have influenced actors' interpretations and audience responses. The commentary describes how actors, directors and designers have approached the play from the first performances in the 1590s to the present.List of illustrations; Series editors' preface; Acknowledgements; Editor's note; List of abbreviations; List of productions; Introduction; List of characters; The Merchant of Venice and commentary; Appendix 1; Appendix 2; Bibliography; Index.'This latest addition to the Shakespeare in Production series l³±