Director: Diego Arciniegas

Costumes: Rafael Jaen

Summer 2004

Merchant of Venice explores the theme of xenophobia in a time when Europe was a melting pot and different societies were coming together because of commerce. Even though, money and trade ruled, the constant battles, invasions and plots to overthrow the empire created an atmosphere of distrust. Furthermore, since church and state were not separate, the moral values that the Catholic Church decreed promoted a segregated society were those who were different were considered evil or lower, never equal. For example, Jewish people were considered evil and their money lending practices were deemed “usury” and illegal –except in commerce ports like Venice. Research also mentioned that in some regions Jews were burned at the stake blamed for the Black Death (bubonic plague) that was spreading through Europe.

The Byzantine Empire was divided due to religious differences. The “Carolignian” western side of the Empire, was more “liberal” than the Eastern Side. Women’s fashion was highly influenced by the Crusades and the Barbarian Invasions. Because of trade many fabrics, trims and decors merged. So you could find Celtic prints and silks from the east together in some of the garment details. Hairstyles became longer and more relaxed than earlier Roman styles, following the styles of the Barbarians. Based on research then, I am making  Portia’s world more colorful, decorated and relaxed than the rest. I am also integrating colors from mosaics and natural gardens of the region. Venice, on the other hand, was a mercantile port and therefore had special rules and dispensations. In cities like Venice, different groups were allowed to live in the same city to contribute to the commercial trade. However, there was great segregation and each group was placed in their specific borrow or getho. Some groups had to wear specific insignias to identify themselves. Shylock the “Jew” and his family would have lived in the Jewish Getho and would’ve had to wear specific yellow hats and yellow branding rings.

To see images form this production please choose to the Merchant of Venice Slide Show on left menu

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