With The Merchant of Venice, it's very easy to lose sight of what's important. The conflict between Antonio and Shylock is so visceral, so primal, it can easily overshadow the rest of the play. The play is sometimes so dark, the clowns and fools are not allowed their due. Often, some of the 'objectionable' lines are altered or cut. The most common, and unforgivable sin though, is to lose track of the fact that this is Portia's story. This is the story of a young noble woman in love with a man she cannot marry. First her father through his will, then Antonio with his summons of Bassanio to Venice, and finally Bassanio's betrayal thwart her goal of wedding, and bedding, the man of her choice. Hers is the true Herculean struggle of the entire drama.

The Merchant of Venice: Uncut is perfect for students and professors of the play. Presenting an unabridged and clear line through the text, it allows for an immediacy and lucid view that many productions obscure. The energetic, young cast brings a quality to the play present in the text but often lost with more established actors. Lizzy Crarer, Patrick Werner, Natalie Kesterton, Dan Martin, and Rob Carter followed their production of Merchant with Trevor Nunn's presentation of Cymbeline at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. These are certainly very, very talented performers.

For more about this production please visit http://www.poundofflesh.co.uk