The Merchant of Venice

Thu., March 20, 7:30 p.m., Fri., March 21, 8 p.m., Sat., March 22, 2 and 8 p.m., Mon.-Wed., March 24-26, 7:30 p.m., through March 29, $20, Tomlinson Theater, Temple University, 1301 W. Norris St., 800-298-4200, temple.edu/sct/theater/currentseason.

by Mark Cofta

theater

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Produced today, Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice plays as a searing portrait of anti-Semitic hatred. In 1596, however, the play was a romantic comedy with some standard girls-disguised-as-boys silliness, and much-maligned moneylender Shylock as a stereotypical comic villain. Dragging the play into the 21st century means harmonizing these warring sensibilities, as director Dan Kern — who recently staged the Lantern's intimate Skylight — attempts at Temple University by reimagining Merchant in late-1930s fascist Italy. He's hoping to highlight the characters' "warmth, vitality and depth," while contrasting those values with "the hate and prejudice that is unquestionably another aspect of their natures." The clash feels very contemporary: How do seemingly good, fair, loving people perpetrate such atrocities? (Even after eight years of unparalleled disaster, Laura still loves George W., after all.) The line between good and evil, within individuals as well as institutions and societies, remains elusive, despite our tendency to label people. Kern's efforts are aided by a superb cast of Masters of Fine Arts degree candidates, including David Blatt as Shylock, and local pros Joe Guzman, Krista Apple and Sarah Doherty, plus costumes by the star of Temple design alumni, Millie Hiibel.

Thu., March 20, 7:30 p.m., Fri., March 21, 8 p.m., Sat., March 22, 2 and 8 p.m., Mon.-Wed., March 24-26, 7:30 p.m., through March 29, $20, Tomlinson Theater, Temple University, 1301 W. Norris St., 800-298-4200, temple.edu/sct/theater/currentseason.