Tosa West Trojan Players Present Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

Don’t miss the Tosa West Trojan Players’ production of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice on April 14, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m., with a matinee on April 16 at 2 p.m., in the theater at West High School, 11400 W. Center St. Tickets are general admission, $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens, and will be available at the door ½ hour before show time.

Can’t quite remember what happens in The Merchant of Venice?  Maybe the term “a pound of flesh” will refresh your memory. This idiom, meaning “a debt harshly insisted upon,” originated in what is actually one of Shakespeare’s most thrilling and controversial plays with a story that revolves around love and betrayal, forgiveness and revenge. It tells the story of two men who have their worlds thrown into chaos after one of the men, Shylock, lends money to the other, Antonio. When Antonio defaults on the loan for a friend with romantic ambitions, Shylock demands this most gruesome of payments.

You probably also recall the theater terms “upstage” and “downstage” but do you know how they originated? English theater stages in the Middle Ages and early Modern era typically sloped upwards away from the audience. This is known as a rake or raked stage and improves the view for the audience.  Even though most stages today are not sloped, the terms “upstage” and downstage” are still used to refer to the part of the stage that is furthest from the audience (upstage) and the part that is closest to the audience (downstage).  (Also the verb to “upstage” someone means to take the attention away from that person.)

In keeping with Shakespeare’s time, the Tosa West Trojan Players’ production of The Merchant of Venice’s wonderful stage design by Theater Director Tim Catlett will include a raked stage. 

Please come out and support Tosa West Theater students and enjoy The Merchant of Venice!