Shakespeare

Shakespeare

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Shakespeare

Setting

            The event location of the Shakespeare play was at the Golden Gate in San Francisco on the July 2, 2014. The attendees at the play were mainly students from local colleges, universities and a few arts enthusiasts who were in large numbers. Upon arrival, the initial reaction was of a pleasant surprise due to the size and stage setting, different cultures of the individuals in attendance and the general ambience of the theatre.

Description

            The performance was based on Shakespeare’s work on The Merchant of Venice. The first piece was depicted through stage play of the story of Antonio who had borrowed money from a shylock in order to help his close friend Bassanio win over the love of Lady Portia (Shakespeare and Sher, 2008). The actors were dressed in replicas of ancient Roman attires complete with the architectural representation of the houses they lived in during the medieval times. The second piece was the use of song and dance in representation of the play’s development. This was used in the celebratory mood depicted by the eventual loss of Shylock and gain of Antonio together with the marriage of Portia and Bassanio.

Summary

            The event was captivating as the plot of the play developed from one scene to another. The attendees were entertained while being equally informed of the cultures of the medieval societies through the mode of dressing, language use and lifestyle characteristics. The attendees were engaged by the actors in situations of soliloquy and direct dialogue exchanges from the stage. After attending the event, the overall reaction was based on the informative means of the play and the different cultures’ resonance with the modern setting (Stoddart, 2007). It was an entertaining and educative event in equal measure.

References

Shakespeare, W., & Sher, A. (2008). The merchant of Venice. Franklin, Tenn.: Naxos SAGE Books.

Stoddart, B. (2007). Sport, culture and history: Region, nation and globe. London: Routledge.