Play: The Merchant of Venice 1936

These two days, back officially with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS). Tonight, we were at The Merchant of Venice 1936, in the Criterion Theatre. This production, in association with the RSC, like yesterday's show, is based around the Cable Street riots. Got the very last ticket, as I recall.. with a Seatplan theatre voucher.

My companion of Friday and I were headed to Brasserie Zédel afterwards, so I headed out a bit later than I otherwise would have. Arrived at the theatre in time to have a chat with the others - it's funny how many of us are going to the same events this week! "Fascism Week", as one called it.. and the theatre is full of displays "of the time" (CAUTION: Antisemitic images follow..)

Well, I was in the rear Stalls - with some others. And my view would have been ok, mainly apart from the guy with the big head.. the other problem was the newsreel footage of the time, projected onto the rear stage, which I couldn't have seen at all, except for it being displayed on a nearby screen:

Well now, what's this play about? So. What we have here is.. a version of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. Shylock is a woman, and the whole thing is set in 1936. What with the costumes of the times, and the display of newsreels of the times on the back wall (which I assiduously watched on the small screen near me), it's fairly easy to translate this to the antisemitism of London in 1936. To make us a bit more sympathetic to Shylock, we see her hosting a dinner at the beginning (in fact, grape juice is offered to some audience members - presumably to make them part of this Jewish celebration). 

Mainly, I liked it - although I don't remember Portia being antisemitic, as she's depicted here. Where it completely lost me was at the end, where an incongruous "Cable Street-style" protest is tacked on to the end. They finish the story, then out of nowhere, produce crates as a barricade and a "They Shall Not Pass" banner, and urge the audience to stand! which we obediently did. Audience members are even invited on stage. Now, there's absolutely no connection between this and the main story - even if you assume it's set in 1936 - and no attempt to join the two. I appreciate the sentiment, but this add-on is utterly ridiculous.

Frankly, avoid - if it weren't for its RSC connections, I doubt this would be getting theatre time. Plays until the 23rd of next month - there are better things to spend your money on.

So, my companion and I headed to the restaurant.. and oh wow, what a find! A hop, skip and jump from Piccadilly Circus, it's an underground venue (literally), and with the most gorgeous art deco and marble interior:

Believe it or not, prices are really reasonable here - I had the Prix Fixe menu, which for two courses is under £20; I had steak haché (which comes with fries and salad) and a "délice de chocolat", which turned out to be a chocolate cheesecake. Very nice - although I hadn't realised that "steak haché" is a steak burger. Comes with some very nice pepper sauce, mind, and was cooked as specified. They do have entrecote, but it costs a lot more. We had a nice wine, and before dessert arrived, a lovely, flavoured brandy digestif was provided gratis.. And throughout, a live band played. Oh yes.. this is a find! Doesn't serve all night, but it does serve later than most. And most of my photos were taken on the way out:

Tomorrow, we're at Nachtland, at the Young Vic. Three days on roughly the same theme.. and it seems appropriate these days.. this is about a family who find a painting, stashed in the attic. It's by, as described, a failed Austrian artist who abandoned his original vocation for Nazism.. The thorny question here is, what exactly to do with it..

On Thursday, there's a concert at King's Place that sounds rather good. Worksongs is part of their Scotland Unwrapped series, and has the Maxwell Quartet playing a mixture of classical music and Scottish traditional.

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Film for the weekend is Wicked Little Letters, a comedy starring Olivia Colman, one of the victims of a series of obscene letters, and Jesse Buckley as the Irishwoman accused of sending 'em. Also starring Timothy Spall. Based on a true story, apparently! Showing at the Omniplex, as per usual.

On Monday, I'm back with CT for Magic Monday at Americana! This is a magic show, which I can't even see advertised on their website - but anyway, the booking fee is discounted from dinner, so this sounds good!

Next Tuesday, back with UITCS for An Enemy of the People, at the Duke of York's Theatre - got the very last cheap ticket for this from London Box Office!

On the 28th, back with CT again - and back to Backyard Comedy at last! This is for Joke Thieves, where people tell each others' jokes.. Gee, it's weeks since I've been there, it'll be good to be back.

And on the 29th, I have a Crick Crack Club event.. this is online from the Oxford Story Museum, and is Dark Tales from the Wood. As told by the excellent Daniel Morden.