Portland Shakespeare Project
Production | Portland, OR, USA
July 10 – 20, 2025
By
William Shakespeare
In a modern verse
translation by
Elise Thoron
Co-Directed by
Avital Shira &
Michael Mendelson
The Merchant of Venice is a comedy/tragedy set in Italy. It is centered around love, money, prejudice, and social injustice.
Shylock asks for a pound of flesh as part of a loan contract; Bassonio agrees to it, and Portia saves the day by disguising her identity and pretending to practice the law.
No one dies, although Shylock loses his money, his property, and his religion.
The Merchant of Venice is a comedy, but it forces us to consider antisemitism and racism then and now.
Want to learn more about this translation?
Read about the origins of Elise Thoron‘s translation of The Merchant of Venice, review press articles, find publications and podcasts, and learn more about the artists involved, all in one place!
