The music of `Merchant of Venice'

Dafeng Theater's musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice takes to the stage this weekend in Taipei. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAFENG MUSICAL THEATER

Dafeng Theater continues its tradition of staging musical versions of theater classics by giving William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice the musical treatment this weekend in Taipei.

Those who have attended a Dafeng play in the past can attest to the company's professionalism and commercial success. The sets and costumes are well designed and the actors are masters of their craft.

The troupe, which staged an English version of The Nutcracker earlier this year, said an English performance of this show will be presented in June. This weekend parents and their children can expect a selection of sing-a-long songs in Mandarin and a pantomime-like performance that invites audience participation.

In the original story Antonio, a Christian merchant, borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish merchant who has grown wealthy through money lending, a profession forbidden to Christians but open to Jewish businessmen at the time. To secure the loan Antonio must risk one pound of flesh for failing to repay the money. When Shylock's daughter runs away with a Christian man, he demands Antonio repay the money or suffer the consequences.

According to the production's music composer and director, Jan Tien-hao (冉天豪), Dafeng avoids any controversy or themes of religious intolerance by making no reference to the religious practice of its characters. Instead, they simplified the script for the target audience of children and focus the story of the relationship between the father and daughter.

Evening performances will held tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. Tickets cost between NT$300 and NT$1100, and are available online at http://maillist.to.tafen or at the door. All performances are held at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, 505 Renai Rd, Sec 4, Taipei (國父紀念館臺北市仁愛路四段505號).