Thaindian News

By Meena Kar
Oct 6, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The sad demise of Jill Clayburgh, on November 5, deterred her daughter Lily Rabe from attending the performances of the current Broadway production of “The Merchant of Venice”, in which she plays the leading role of Portia with Co-star Al Pacino as Shylock.

It is also said that Lily Rabe will not be able to attend the performances and rehearsals for several days as she is psychologically disturbed. The official press opening of the play has also been pushed back in order to accommodate Lily Rabe. The play, which was supposed to take place on November 7, has been rescheduled for November 15, said a representative of the production house. However, nothing has been finalized yet. Till the time Lily Rabe returns, Kim Martin-Cotten, will play the role of Portia. The performance of November 7 will be conducted as par the schedule in Broadhurst Theatre this fall. It will be performed only through Sunday on January 9 and will play 78 performances. The cast of the play who will continue to play their respective roles are Al Pacino as Shylock, Lily Rabe as Portia, although she will be temporarily replaced by Kim Martin Cotten, Byron Jennings as Antonio, Jesse L. Martin as Gratiano, Gerry Bamman as Duke of Venice, Heather Lind as Jessica, Matthew Rauch as Solanio, and Richard Topol as Tubal. The new caste will include Marsha Stephanie Blake as Nerissa, Christopher Fitzgerald as Launcelot Gobbo, David Harbour as Bassanio, Peter Francis James as Salerio, Isaiah Johnson as Prince of Morocco, Charles Kimbrough as Prince of Arragon, and Seth Numrich as Lorenzo.

This is one of the best plays by Shakespeare, and therefore the intricate Elizabethan designing of the play has been done by Mark Wendland, costumes has been designed by Jess Goldstein and lighting design by Kenneth Posner. The play will again performed in this summer at the Delacorte Theater.