NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

10/2/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -The Northwestern Theatre will present Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice Oct. 11-14 and 17-21 in Theatre West. Dr. Vicki Parrish is the director. Tickets are $10. NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with I.D.

Parrish took the play and changed the setting to Miami in the 1980's.

"I started with the philosophy of taking Shakespeare to a younger generation," said Parrish. "Many people struggle with Shakespeare because the language is archaic and they don't take time to delve into the true essence of what Shakespeare is about."

In the play, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead.

"Shakespeare created plots with well defined characters and a contemporary message and Merchant of Venice is an example of this," said Parrish. "It is a story about the desire for power, companionship and true love."

The cast includes Casey Barrett of Lake Charles as Bassanio, Jason Belew of Searcy, Ark., as Antonio, Elizabeth Bigger of Covington as Jessica, Trey Bowden of Waskom, Texas, as the Prince of Aragon, Lorena Deamer of Baton Rouge as the Duchess of Venice, Tibeau Hampton of New Orleans as Lorenzo and Ryan Hazelbaker of Slidell as the Prince of Morocco.

Also in the cast are Donald Jones of Natchitoches as Shylock, Melody Jones of Jasper, Texas, as Tubal, Kendall Judy of Fort Smith, Ark., as Launcelot, Mandi Ridgdell of Baton Rouge as Nerissa, Rebecca Russell of Alexandria as Portia and Van White of New Llano as Gratiano.

"Shakespeare's words have such a rhythm that they help the actor in performing. They visualize so much that they can internalize their interpretation of the character," said Parrish. "There are so many ways of playing Shylock. He has been played as sympathetic or even comic. Shylock also has one of the most poignant monologues written."

For ticket information, call (318) 357-4483.

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