The Merchant of Venice (Classic Stage Company) NYC Reviews and Tickets | Show Score

72%

(27 Ratings)

Positive

63%

Mixed

19%

Negative

18%

Members say

Entertaining, Clever, Great acting, Absorbing, Gimmicky

About the Show

A powerful adaptation of Shakespeare's play, blending urgency, humanity, and modern relevance.

The Merchant of Venice, renowned for Shylock's extreme cruelty, gets a captivating adaptation by Ukrainian-born Jewish director Igor Golyak. This version, starring Richard Topol as Shylock and a talented ensemble cast, offers a thrilling experience that takes a dramatic and tragic turn, leaving the audience both shocked and moved by its unavoidable consequences. It brings Shakespeare's themes to life with urgency, humanity, and contemporary relevance.

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Critic Reviews (6)

"a Jewish reclamation of Shakespeare's problem play"
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"all this misbegotten Merchant reveals is a contemporary obsession"
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With its unremitting whimsy, the quality of mercy is strained nearly to the breaking point
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"gimmicks make it impossible to follow the play as well as figure out the interpretation"
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Too many concepts complicated my ability to derive meaning.
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"There’s a sense of play here that’s often charming but can just as frequently miss the mark"
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Trailer

Creative team

Classic Stage Company

William Shakespeare

Writer / Director