I really liked David Suchet's performance. He spoke clearly and seemed like he was fighting to contain the rage brewing inside himself while still justifying it. Patrick Stewart (while also excellent) really rushed through the speech and switched between sarcasm and fury.
i am an actor based in Romania, and i really think David Suchet is one of the best, if not the best actor ever. Certainly the best to ever done Shakspeare!
I agree with Patrick...it makes sense more that he uses that speech to justify what he is about to do (because he wants revenge),more so than feeling he was wronged racialy ...
So far, everyone I've seen seems (to me, and FULL DISCLOSURE I know nothing about Shakespeare, so I don't claim authority; I only know what I like) to be understanding the speech wrong. When I read it, I don't see Shylock begging for sympathy or expressing pathos or even ranting about revenge. The way i see this is: Salarino just doesn't understand - it's never occurred to him - that Shylock has feelings and resents what Antonio has done to him, just as Salarino would resent the same. To Salarino, it just seems like a jolly game, the way "a bit of the old ultra-violence" seems to Alex in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Salarino is surprised to learn that Shylock takes Antonio's insults so seriously, and Shylock is explaining it to him in exaggeratedly simple terms, thinking "How can you possibly not already understand this?" and more and more obviously projecting the sub-text "The fact that you need me to explain this shows that you are an idiot, a stupid little sociopathic schoolyard bully who needs a come-uppance." Shylock is speaking in more and more obvious, simple terms, talking down to Salarino as if Salarino were even stupider than he is. If anything, try to understate, not inflate, Shylock's feelings about it. Well, here: ruclips.net/video/qPhFl83jPYg/видео.html
I think the clearest distinction between their interpretations is in the line "Because I am a Jew." and the emphasis they put on it. In Suchet's delivery you can feel the absolute black bitterness Shylock feels, as well as a sort of collective agony Jews feel from centuries of persecution. While in Stewart's delivery it's much more of a secondary issue, not the key reason for his anger.
I love these videos! I watched a number of them in college pursuing a BFA. As I am preparing to teach HS theatre I wish I could find them for my future classes. Does anyone know where I could find the lot? P.S. I like Suchet's portrayal better.
This is from the Royal Shakespeare Company series Playing Shakespeare from 1982. Right now they are all free on RUclips from a VHS rip. Decent quality. Hopefully this is still helpful to you.
When i consider that Shylock's entire identity investment is at stake when he talks about the circumstances that affect it adversely (as a righteously prospering man of the Law) i understand his outrage at people who are not as strict in the observance of tit-for-tat as he himself is. I agree that the performance could gain with more understatement, but the deeply wounded pride needs to come through effectively. It's at the heart of his motivation as a human being. The only way he can prevail in a culturally adverse society.
I really liked David Suchet's performance. He spoke clearly and seemed like he was fighting to contain the rage brewing inside himself while still justifying it. Patrick Stewart (while also excellent) really rushed through the speech and switched between sarcasm and fury.
If it seems rushed it may be due to the apparent fast-forwarding vhs
I agree. I would also say that because David says that he is Jewish, I felt that the role seemed more personal for him.
i am an actor based in Romania, and i really think David Suchet is one of the best, if not the best actor ever. Certainly the best to ever done Shakspeare!
I hear Poirot in Suchet's voice in the performance. Totally brilliant.
Omg you're right!!
I agree with Patrick...it makes sense more that he uses that speech to justify what he is about to do (because he wants revenge),more so than feeling he was wronged racialy ...
I preferred Sachet’s interpretation. A volcano being barely restrained. A lot of us can relate.
Man I'm playing shylocks in a week time y'all wish me luck
I'm writing from a year in the future. How did it go for you as shylock?
@@zaphodhead1 sadly the show was cancelled. No one took their part as serious as I
Did
So far, everyone I've seen seems (to me, and FULL DISCLOSURE I know nothing about Shakespeare, so I don't claim authority; I only know what I like) to be understanding the speech wrong. When I read it, I don't see Shylock begging for sympathy or expressing pathos or even ranting about revenge. The way i see this is: Salarino just doesn't understand - it's never occurred to him - that Shylock has feelings and resents what Antonio has done to him, just as Salarino would resent the same. To Salarino, it just seems like a jolly game, the way "a bit of the old ultra-violence" seems to Alex in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Salarino is surprised to learn that Shylock takes Antonio's insults so seriously, and Shylock is explaining it to him in exaggeratedly simple terms, thinking "How can you possibly not already understand this?" and more and more obviously projecting the sub-text "The fact that you need me to explain this shows that you are an idiot, a stupid little sociopathic schoolyard bully who needs a come-uppance." Shylock is speaking in more and more obvious, simple terms, talking down to Salarino as if Salarino were even stupider than he is. If anything, try to understate, not inflate, Shylock's feelings about it.
Well, here:
ruclips.net/video/qPhFl83jPYg/видео.html
That video clip you posted no longer exists.
I think the clearest distinction between their interpretations is in the line "Because I am a Jew." and the emphasis they put on it. In Suchet's delivery you can feel the absolute black bitterness Shylock feels, as well as a sort of collective agony Jews feel from centuries of persecution. While in Stewart's delivery it's much more of a secondary issue, not the key reason for his anger.
Thank you for posting this, this helped me with a project I've been working on!!!
Hi to future english classes 👌
Patrick stewart's Shylock is the proto Jessie Heisenberg
Explain yourself>...
I love these videos! I watched a number of them in college pursuing a BFA. As I am preparing to teach HS theatre I wish I could find them for my future classes. Does anyone know where I could find the lot?
P.S. I like Suchet's portrayal better.
This is from the Royal Shakespeare Company series Playing Shakespeare from 1982. Right now they are all free on RUclips from a VHS rip. Decent quality. Hopefully this is still helpful to you.
@@LollygaggingRabbit It is, thank you!
amazing.
Very impressive.
Superb
0:20
Exactly
I can't help thinking it would be better played without so much heat and aggression, without the hysteria or psychopathy.
When i consider that Shylock's entire identity investment is at stake when he talks about the circumstances that affect it adversely (as a righteously prospering man of the Law) i understand his outrage at people who are not as strict in the observance of tit-for-tat as he himself is. I agree that the performance could gain with more understatement, but the deeply wounded pride needs to come through effectively. It's at the heart of his motivation as a human being. The only way he can prevail in a culturally adverse society.
Too flamboyant for my taste. Too "actorly." Watch Welles' version.