Shylock

Money, power and love

A pound of flesh, to be cut from the person’s own body, and three caskets made of gold, silver and lead. These remarkable components are the starting point of Shylock, a new play by Jan Decorte.  

Decorte’s inspiration is The Merchant of Venice. In this play Shakespeare tells the story of the noble but poor Bassanio, who is in love with the beautiful and wealthy Portia. He wants to impress her and so approaches his friend Antonio for a loan. As Antonio’s capital is invested at sea, he borrows from the Jewish moneylender Shylock. However, Shylock includes a very special clause in the agreement: if Antonio fails to repay the loan on time, he must cut a pound of flesh from his own body, more especially from the region around his heart. However, Bassanio is not the only contender for Portia’s hand. Her deceased father has ordered three caskets to be made, one of gold, one of silver and one of lead. Whoever chooses the right casket will win his daughter…

• Shylock is Decorte’s incisive play about prejudice and humanity, money, power and love. He has set the tone to where delicate poetry and pure rock ‘n’ roll meet. The cast consists of Jan Decorte, Waas Gramser, Herwig Ilegems, Kris Van Trier and Sigrid Vinks. This small ‘Shakespeare league’ has already earned its spurs. Together they have previously performed Wintervögelchen (after The Winter’s Tale) and Niks of niks (after Much Ado About Nothing).