Merchant on Venice Reviews

Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...I found this "Merchant" 10 times as funny, smart and intellectually stimulating as "The Bomb-itty of Errors," which it slightly resembles. And that has been a hit across the country. For sure, this piece is a must-see for anyone who follows progressive approaches to Shakespeare."

Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended

"...Director Stuart Carden's exceptionally buoyant, Bollywood-infused production -- with an ethnic cast that clearly thrives on this material -- is ambitious and delicious on many levels."

Daily Herald - Recommended

"...Tariq Vasudeva nearly steals the show with his comic performance as Sharuk's bumbling servant Tooranpoi. But he gets some competition from Marvin Quihada's super-swank Frank Sinatra-wannabe Amithaba (the Gratiano role), 'decked out in sharkskin and armed with a rapier quip.' "

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...Stuart Carden's spirited world-premiere staging for Silk Road Theatre Project highlights equally the script's sinister undertones and its giddy polyglot mix of traditional and pop-culture references."

Windy City Times - Recommended

"...One would expect the action of so volatile-themed a fable to quickly disintegrate into desperate time-stepping. But despite a few forced end-rhymes, Kurup’s concept paints an accurate picture of its social and theological milieu."

Gay Chicago Magazine - Highly Recommended

"...Playwright Kurup takes creative chance after chance, most of which succeed brilliantly. Once again, Silk Road fearlessly tackles misconceptions and misrepresentations as only the arts can. “Merchant on Venice” is not only exceptionally ingenious in its reinterpretation of this classic tale of brutal bigotry and revenge but serves the purpose of illuminating the overlooked and thereby emancipating the general perceptions of our all too homogenized body-politic. Those are some lofty accomplishments in and of themselves, but add to that a theatrical experience that is blissfully entertaining, and you have a unique marvel not to be missed."

EpochTimes - Recommended

"...This has some very funny spots and combines poetic writings with L.A. Punk, Hindu-Muslim tensions, a Latino influence against an American backdrop. Directed by Stuart Carden on a simple set by Lee Keenan, this is a two and a half hour romp with some solid performances and of course, one very large typical Bollywood moment ( with lip-sync and dancing). If you have ever seen one of these films, you will know what to expect. If not, you will find yourself "loving it"!"

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...The playwright deftly maintains the mostly verse structure with a wink; the prose-speaking Tooranpoi (formidable clown Tariq Vasudeva as the Launcelot analogue) tells Jitendra, “It must be nice to speak in verse; I did not understand a word, but it sounded good.” "

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...Merchant On Venice is funny, articulate and poignant as the cross-cultural conflicts are dramatically presented amongst the background of Venice, California’s obsession with pop cultures. This show is energetic, well paced and engaging. Once Kurup makes some cuts, it will become even more pleasing."