{"id":364830,"date":"2025-02-23T18:59:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-23T23:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/?p=364830"},"modified":"2025-02-23T18:59:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T23:59:31","slug":"everything-that-never-happened-rethinks-merchant-of-venice-at-baltimore-center-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/2025\/02\/23\/everything-that-never-happened-rethinks-merchant-of-venice-at-baltimore-center-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Everything That Never Happened’ rethinks ‘Merchant of Venice’ at Baltimore Center Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a time where hate is enveloping us every day in the news and social media, this play becomes a beacon of light. Currently running at Baltimore Center Stage, Everything That Never Happened,<\/em> wonderfully written by playwright Sarah Mantell, provides a most interesting perspective on the original play by Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice. <\/em>Instead of the traditional take that often includes negative stereotypes of Jewish people, it shows a father\u2019s love, his heartbreak, and a transactional type of love between the young lovers.<\/p>\n

Everything That Never Happened<\/em> is set in Venice, Italy, during the year 1596. A time when the Jewish people are seen as less than and relegated to the city\u2019s ghetto. Even with this mark upon them, they are the prime lenders for people throughout Venice and are often sought out for loans. This very simple exchange is what provides the foundational fodder for this story. The infamous \u201ca pound of flesh\u201d resonates so much deeper here. With the loss of one\u2019s identity and family, so much is given up, whether voluntary or involuntary. It\u2019s the figurative meaning behind the phrase. And when the literal pound of flesh is demanded, it resonates so much more about what is happening within a prominent city. While there are moments of sarcastic humor with dalliances of history yet to be made, this play directed by Jessica Kubzansky speaks out loudly against the commonly accepted rhetoric of a classic.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Erika Soto as Jessica and Leo Marks as Shylock in \u2018Everything That Never Happened.\u2019 Photo by J Fannon Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I enjoyed Erika Soto\u2019s adaptation of Jessica. She was witty and full of energy as she seamlessly bared the complex nature of her character and the social temperature of the times. She was very much an impetuous teenager in love but unsure of her future. Her interactions were so authentic. Down to watching her pack and carry her trunk across the stage or when her only explanation of a thing was to say, \u201cIt\u2019s a Jewish thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lorenzo, aptly performed by Nic Picou, was a typical young, na\u00efve boy lost in his world. He was what you expected of a young man trying to woo his woman into a very loosely planned future with him. Very impetuous, and somewhat self-serving, love is important but so is his bottom line. It gives typical Shakespeare drama. I must admit although this was set in 1596, some of his requests \u2014 for example \u201cgive up everything you are and take on my name, my culture, my religion\u201d for supposed freedom \u2014 are still being played out today. Only to add his lack of full transparency, he had me along with several audience members clutching our imaginary pearls. While you kind of wanted to pluck Lorenzo in the forehead sometimes, you could still see the appeal.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite moments was Allison Wick\u2019s Gobbo. I like the quiet reserve she portrayed for her character. Even though she doesn\u2019t always understand everything going on in her employer\u2019s home, her love for her young mistress is clear. She helps Jessica, even when it betrays her own heart. I appreciated her blatant, painful honesty, even when she used it to mislead.<\/p>\n

\"\"
TOP: Allison Wick as Gobbo and Erika Soto as Jessica; ABOVE: Leo Marks as Shylock and Nic Picou as Lorenzo, in \u2018Everything That Never Happened.\u2019 Photos by J Fannon Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The portrayal of Shylock by Leo Marks was heart-wrenchingly astounding. He provided a very human, fatherly aspect to this often negatively stereotyped character. During his brief monologue where he laments his daughter\u2019s decision, he was so sorrowful you can\u2019t help but feel pity for his situation. You could feel the weight of all his losses, his frustration with how the people of Venice treat him, and the constant fight just to be allowed to exist. But through it all, he holds onto being a Jew. Even until the very end, when he is forced to assimilate as part of a punishment for his supposed crimes.<\/p>\n

I enjoyed the many layers that this play had to offer. The sadness, the honesty, the dry wit, the forgiving love of family. It is a piece that allows you the opportunity to draw parallels and to grow as a person. And while this play strays from the original, the alternate path is worth the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Running Time: 90 minutes, no intermission.<\/p>\n

Everything That Never Happened<\/strong> <\/em><\/a>plays through March 9, 2025, at Baltimore Center Stage, 700 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD. For tickets ($10\u2013$79, with senior and student discounts available), call the box office at (410) 332-0033 (Tuesday through Friday, noon\u20135 pm), email boxoffice@centerstage.org<\/a>, or purchase them online.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The program for Everything That Never Happened<\/em>\u00a0is available online here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Everything That Never Happened
\n<\/strong><\/em>
\nCAST
\nJessica: Erika Soto
\nLorenzo: Nic Picou
\nShylock: Leo Marks
\nGobbo: Allison Wick<\/p>\n

CREATIVES
\nPlaywright: Sarah Mantell
\nDirector: Jessica Kubzansky
\nAsst. Director: Dante Fields
\nOrginating Composer\/ Sound Designer: John Nobori
\nAssociate Sound Designer: Caitlin Leong
\nCostume Designer: Mel NG
\nScenic Designer; Anton Volovsek
\nLighting Designer: Sim Carpenter
\nAssociate Lighting Director: Tyrell Stanely
\nStage manager: Luisa Ann Torres
\nAsst. Stage Manager: Caroline Ragland
\nProduction Asst.: Sharon Zheng
\nCasting by: The Telsey Office Destiny Lilly, CSA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sarah Mantell’s new play speaks out loudly against the commonly accepted rhetoric of Shakespeare’s classic. By CONSTANCE BEULAH<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":364835,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,18],"tags":[191,192],"class_list":{"0":"post-364830","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-maryland","8":"category-reviews","9":"tag-jessica-kubzansky","10":"tag-sarah-mantell"},"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n'Everything That Never Happened' rethinks 'Merchant of Venice' at Baltimore Center Stage - 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