Der Kaufmann

Jonathan Tadioan

Tanghalang Pilipino, in a bold move, has taken The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare out of its 16^th century setting and placed it right smack inside a concentration camp during the holocaust. A jaded mind might think that this shift in time and setting would only result to cosmetic and superficial changes. But I took into account my knowledge of World War II and how the Jews suffered in the hands of the Nazis at the time. And the result, Der Kaufmann, jointly directed by Rody Vera and Tuxqs Rutaquio, was no longer just the familiar play but one that had added layers and an additional story instead.

In this retelling, using the translation by Rolando Tinio, the Jews and homosexuals rounded up inside the concentration camps were forced to portray characters in The Merchant of Venice, in a production mounted probably to amuse to the Nazis. And some of the Nazis portray some of the characters as well. And how the characters were cast was already an added layer in itself. For example, Bassanio (Nicolo Magno) and Antonio (Marco Viaña) were the best of friends in the play but the former is actually a Nazi while the latter is a homosexual inside the camp. While within the context of the play, they were indeed like the best of friends but whenever they exited the stage, a shift happened at the last possible moment and Bassanio turned into a Nazi once again ruggedly shoving Antonio off stage with such contempt. It is details like this that gave Der Kaufmann such richness that went beyond the actual text.

Regina de Vera

This added layer was seen a lot in Shylock (Jonathan Tadioan) who was also the Jewish father. His portrayal of Shylock was that of a repulsive clown/monster that I think adhered to the stereotypical image of a Jew who is to be mocked and maligned. But when he reverted back to being the Jewish father, the expression, posture and demeanor also changed making him more of a sympathetic character. My most memorable Shylock moment wasn’t his monologue during the famous court scene, but rather when he was up in arms when he learned that his daughter Jessica eloped with Lorenzo. The lines may have been Shylock’s but the emotion was that of the Jewish father who was demanding from the Nazis the location of his daughter (Trixie Esteban) who was separated from him at the concentration camp.

At one point in the play, I got lost in the story itself, got too comfortable and forgot that this was still a play within a play. But then towards the end of the first act during Antonio and Portia’s wedding, the swastikas became a jolting and not so subtle reminder that the there was still this line dividing the Nazis and those that they felt were below them. I knew right then and there, that the second act would not hold anything back anymore.

Marco Viaña

The most gripping character for me in the whole play was Portia, portrayed by Regina de Vera. The blonde bombshell Portia started out innocently as a rich heiress who can only be betrothed to the suitor who would choose the right box out of the three that were laid out to him which was rather silly. But all this silliness went up in the air once she donned her disguise and made her appearance at the court of justice, I was reminded that she was one of the Nazis and this gave the mercy speech she delivered a whole new, twisted and sick meaning. And it got even creepier when she was telling the disappointed Shylocks about their fate. Yes, I mentioned Shylocks since this role was passed on in disturbing fashion from the Jewish father, to his wife (Racquel Pareño) and eventually to their daughter.

There were a lot of memorable moments throughout this play which one had to see in order to grasp fully what I wrote in here. I do hope that this becomes one of the plays in Tanghalang Pilipino’s repertoire that would be staged season after season. And I can imagine for those who know more about Shakespeare and the play than World War II, this production would be more than enough for them to dig their noses in history books and vice versa for history buffs who aren’t all too familiar with the Bard and his works.

Rody Vera, Nanding Josef, Regina de Vera and Tuxqs Rutaquio

There are only a few chances to see Der Kaufmann as Tanghalang Pilipino has extended the run in line of the cancellations of a couple of shows due to inclement weather. Special performances will be held on October 19, 2013 at 3:00 & 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater).