The "Play" Is the Thing: Merchant of Venice for Kids

The play we saw on Saturday was definitely an awesome experience. It was really interesting to see how the Young Company tailored the Merchant of Venice for a young audience, and made it "kid-friendly". All the bright costumes and fun props which the kids got to take part in made it entertaining to witness. I loved the little boy who played Bassonio's friend. Although he didn't actually have any lines, he was so into what he was doing. His facial expressions went perfectly with how the character would react to Bassonio. It was adorable!

Besides all the "playing" in the play, I think one of the greatest things about seeing a kid-oriented play was how the actors chose one specific theme to focus on and direct the kids' attention to. In this, the theme of bullying, or how we treat others. They brought up the fact that Antonio (in this case Antonia) and Shylock were from different backgrounds and places, and neither was accepting of the other. Neither could look past what made them different from one another, and both were content to treat each other poorly.

In reading the play, Shylock time and again claims that his hatred is merely a result of what he has learned from his Christian neighbors. The fact that he is of a different religion than Antonio does not seem to have gone unpunished. In return, as the play develops, Shylock's actions show that he has had to endure a lot of tribulation at the hands of Antonio. When he demands the pound of flesh should Antonio prove unable to repay the debt, and Salarino explains what good it will do him, he responds "The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction" (III.i.60–61).


As they asked the kids during the play though, we have to consider the idea of mercy, and the fact that Shylock refused to use it. Even with how poorly Shylock had been treated, does that justify how he treats Antonio? Would that justify taking his life?

I really liked how at the end they opened up what they had performed for discussion, and how they said they do the same for the kids. It's really cool to know that they give the kids an opportunity to reflect on what Shakespeare was teaching, and also, how the Young Co. decided to portray it. Overall, I thought it was an awesome presentation and I'm thinking about going again.