YER BARD SCRIPT: FINAL CUT

PRE-SHOW: ‘GRAFFITI’
Cast mingle ‘as themselves’ with audience as they arrive. Perhaps help show them to a seat etc..? Audience members could be encouraged to ‘sign in’ to our ‘Visitors Book’ on the door as they enter?

Paul remains seated throughout at a small ‘Box Office’ table just inside the door – counting money. At random moments the cast leave their guests and graffiti the banner announcing the title of our play. They return and continue conversations as if nothing unusual has happened.

On FOH ‘clearance’ Fleur (DUKE) closes the last door to reveal the audience’s participation in our anti-Semitic graffiti.

Fleur, as DUKE, X USC and blows whistle.

Cast X to their positions on stage as outlined below:

PROLOGUE:
DUKE

I hold the world but as the world,
A stage where every man must play a part –
Righteous. Royal. Unyeilding. I am Duke of Venice.

Dialogue as rehearsed. All speak Shylock’s final word - ‘JEW’

B
T
L
A
C
J
F
P

SCENE 1: ‘THE REQUEST’

All except Paul (who returns to the desk) Judith as Antonio, Caroline as Portia and Teri as Bassanio retreat to the back wall to continue to graffiti the banner.

BASSANIO

X SR to PORTIA

In Belmont is a lady richly left
And she is fair, and fairer than that word,
Of wondrous virtues. Her name is Portia.

Caroline X USC to banner

The four winds blow in from every coast
Renowned suitors, all come in quest of her.
Had I but the means to hold a rival place,
I should questionless be fortunate.

ANTONIO

Thou knowest all my fortunes are at sea,
Neither have I money, nor commodity
To raise a present sum. Therefore go forth;
Try what my credit can in Venice do.

Cut to shylock crossing to Thom with the cash box. Ad lib dialogue.

SCENE 2: ‘GROTESQUE JEWS’
As Paul returns to the stage DSL music starts. The cast turn DS – wearing disguises. As Paul X to DSR they mimic his movements and religion/nature creating a range of stereotypical Jewish ‘grotesques’. All lay a trail of money for BASSANIO.

Paul return DSR to his desk. As the music concludes the grotesques (except Fleur and Caroline) return to US positions by banner and, on the final chord, remove the disguises. (Place USC)


SCENE 3: ‘THE BOND’
BASSANIO enters SL and follows the money trail, collecting coins and ending at SHYLOCK'S feet. Fleur and Caroline, still in disguise, entice him towards SHYLOCK.

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats, well.

F & C

Well!

BASSANIO

Ay, sir, for three months.

SHYLOCK

For three months...

F & C

For three months...

SHYLOCK

Well!

F & C

Well!

BASSANIO

For the which as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.

F & C

Antonio bound!

SHYLOCK
Antonio shall become bound, well.

F & C

Well!

BASSANIO

May you stead me? Will you furnish me? Shall I know your answer?

F & C

Answer!

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.

F & C

Antonio bound!

BASSANIO

Your answer to that.

ANTONIO enters SL

SHYLOCK

Who is he comes here?

BASSANIO

This is Signor Antonio.

SHYLOCK

How like a fawning publican he looks.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.

BASSANIO

Shylock, do you hear?

During the following scene, F & C ‘graffiti’ key words, images, slogans etc… on the OHP.

ANTONIO produces a Dictaphone and ‘plays’ SHYLOCK a recording of his speeches.

ANTONIO

Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow
By taking nor by giving of excess,
Yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend,
I’ll break my custom.

BASSANIO

So...three thousand ducats?

SHYLOCK

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
And for three months?

ANTONIO

Ay, for three months.

ANTONIO moves USC into the OHP ‘spotlight’

SHYLOCK

This kindness will I show.

Moves to OHP

Seal me there your single bond, and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.

During the above speech F & C drip droplets of red liquid onto the OHP glass, smearing ANTONIO'S ‘body’.

ANTONIO

Content, in faith. I’ll seal to such a bond
And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

BASSANIO

You shall not seal to such a bond for me.

ANTONIO

Why fear not, man; I will not forfeit it.
Within these two months I do expect return
Of thrice three times the value of this bond.
Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.

ANTONIO ‘signs’ the OHP screen.

The Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind.

BASSANIO

I like not fair terms and a villain’s mind.


SCENE 3: ‘JESSICA & LORENZO’
SX – Thunder and rain mixed with Music track.

Cast begin to shelter from weather, move US to collect umbrellas, and move into the ‘rain walk’. SX Thunder Clap

JESSICA emerges from the umbrella procession. Moves SC

JESSICA

Alack, what heinous sin is in me
To be ashamed to be my father’s child.

Enter LORENZO by torch light.

LORENZO

Fair Jessica! Ho!

JESSICA

Who are you?

LORENZO

Lorenzo and thy love.

JESSICA

Lorenzo certain, and my love indeed!
O, Lorenzo, though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not of his manners.
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife.

During the speech, Jessica crosses DSR to Shylock – seated at his ‘table’. She strips him of his wealth – takes wallet, watch, jewellery etc... finally taking the money box.

Here take this casket, it is worth the pains.

LORENZO

On! Away!


SCENE 4: ‘THE BAITING OF SHYLOCK’
Blackout.

SX Cue

Cast turn on head lights.

Paul, seated at his desk, is awoken by the ‘Baiting of Shylock’. He is encircled by the ‘lights’.

CAST

Fiend. Villain. Dog Jew. Misbeliever. Cut-throat dog. Fiend. Evil Soul. Rotten apple. Etc…

The baiting increases in intensity and menace. Shylock tears at the banners.
OHP is turned on – pinning him in its light. Perhaps we draw a yellow star on him?

SHYLOCK

I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes?
Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
Warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?

On the final word ‘revenge’ the last banner is ripped from the wall. Shylock exits DSL to technical gallery.


SCENE 5: ‘PUPPET SHYLOCK’
Out of the fragments of the torn banner, a puppet Shylock is created and manipulated. Shylock’s speech is repeated by the chorus as rehearsed. The speech is performed under headlamp light – i.e. the non-puppeteers light the puppet from DSC.


SCENE 6: ‘DAUGHTER AND DUCATS'
SHYLOCK is heard in the technical gallery frantically searching for his money box.

SHYLOCK

Why there, there, there, there!
How now, Tubal! What news?

TUBAL enters DSR

Hast thou found my daughter?

JESSICA enters USC

TUBAL

I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her.

SHYLOCK enters from gallery to DSL of JESSICA

SHYLOCK

A diamond gone cost me two thousand ducats.
The curse never fell upon our nation till now.
I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot…

F touches JESSICA'S head – she falls as if dead.

TUBAL

…and the ducats in her coffin!

SHYLOCK

The thief gone with so much – and no satisfaction, no revenge!
Nor no ill luck stirring but what lights o’my shoulders, no sighs but o’my breathing, no tears but o’my shedding.

TUBAL

Yes, other men have ill luck too, Antonio, as I heard.

F & C bring our the water barrel containing a boat. The sit DSC.

SHYLOCK

What, what, what? Ill luck, ill luck?

F & C

Ill luck! Ill luck!

They roll the barrel to and fro.

TUBAL

Hath an argosy cast away!

SHYLOCK

I thank God, I thank God! Is it true? Is it true?

TUBAL

I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wrack.

SHYLOCK

I thank thee, good Tubal! Good news, good news!

F & C

Good news! Good news!

TUBAL

Antonio cannot chose but break.

SHYLOCK

I am very glad of it. I’ll plague him; I’ll torture him. I am glad of it.

Tubal takes a ring from JESSICA'S finger.

TUBAL

One of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey.

SHYLOCK

Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal. I would not have have given it for a wilderness of monkeys.

TUBAL

But Antonio is certainly undone.

SHYLOCK

Nay, that’s true, that’s very true. Go, Tubal, fee me an officer; I will have the heart of him.

The cast ‘build’ the court for the final scene around the motionless figure of SHYLOCK.

Final Scene as per David’s COURTROOM script.

COURTROOM SCRIPT

ACT IV SCENE I

Venice. A court of justice.

Enter the DUKE, the Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALERIO, and others

DUKE
What, is Antonio here?

ANTONIO
Ready, so please your grace.

DUKE
I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.
Go one, and call the Jew into the court.

SALERIO
He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord.

Enter SHYLOCK

DUKE
Make room, and let him stand before our face.
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act; and then 'tis thought
Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty;
And where thou now exact'st the penalty,
Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,

SHYLOCK
I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose;
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond:
If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter and your city's freedom.
You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have
A weight of carrion flesh than to receive
Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that:
But, say, it is my humour: is it answer'd?
What if my house be troubled with a rat
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats
To have it baned? What, are you answer'd yet?
Some men there are love not a gaping pig;
Some, that are mad if they behold a cat;
And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose,
Cannot contain their urine: for affection,
Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood
Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer:
As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
Why he, a woollen bagpipe; but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame
As to offend, himself being offended;
So can I give no reason, nor I will not,
More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing
I bear Antonio, that I follow thus
A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?

ANTONIO
I pray you, think you question with the Jew:
You may as well do anything most hard,
As seek to soften that--than which what's harder?--
His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you,
Make no more offers, use no farther means,
But with all brief and plain conveniency
Let me have judgment and the Jew his will.

BASSANIO
For thy three thousand ducats here is six.

SHYLOCK
What judgment shall I dread, doing
Were in six parts and every part a ducat,
I would not draw them; I would have my bond.

DUKE
How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?

NERISSA
Bellario greets your grace.
Presenting a letter

BASSANIO
Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

SHYLOCK
To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.

SHYLOCK
No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.

GRATIANO
O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog!
And for thy life let justice be accused.

SHYLOCK
Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,
Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud:
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.

PORTIA
Is your name Shylock?

SHYLOCK
Shylock is my name.

PORTIA
Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;
Yet in such rule that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.
You stand within his danger, do you not?

ANTONIO
Ay, so he says.

PORTIA
The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

SHYLOCK
My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

PORTIA
Why, this bond is forfeit;
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful:
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

ANTONIO
Most heartily I do beseech the court
To give the judgment.

PORTIA
Why then, thus it is:
You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

SHYLOCK
O noble judge! O excellent young man!

PORTIA
Therefore lay bare your bosom.

SHYLOCK
Ay, his breast:
So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge?
'Nearest his heart:' those are the very words.

PORTIA
It is so. Are there balance here to weigh
The flesh?

SHYLOCK
I have them ready.

PORTIA
Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,
To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

SHYLOCK
Is it so nominated in the bond?

PORTIA
It is not so express'd: but what of that?
'Twere good you do so much for charity.

SHYLOCK
I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.

PORTIA
A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine:
The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

SHYLOCK
Most rightful judge!

PORTIA
And you must cut this flesh from off his breast:
The law allows it, and the court awards it.

SHYLOCK
Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!

PORTIA
Tarry a little; there is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh:
'Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;

SHYLOCK
Is that the law?

GRATIANO
O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!

SHYLOCK
I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice
And let the Christian go.

BASSANIO
Here is the money.

PORTIA
Soft!The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste:
He shall have nothing but the penalty.

PORTIA
Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more
But just a pound of flesh: if thou cut'st more
Or less than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance,

ANTONIO
So please my lord the duke and all the court
To quit the fine for one half of his goods,
I am content; so he will let me have
The other half in use, to render it,
Upon his death, unto the gentleman
That lately stole his daughter:
Two things provided more, that, for this favour,
He presently become a Christian;

PORTIA
Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?

SHYLOCK
I am content.

Exeunt Duke and his train

BASSANIO
Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,
Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.

PORTIA
I see, sir, you are liberal in offers
You taught me first to beg; and now methinks
You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.

Exeunt