Purely Cornrnentar

Once again, the spotlight is on Stratford, Ontario,
where the aura. of Shakespearean art again will breeze
into the large tented amphitheater on Monday even-
ing, for a reconstruction of a great art—by great
artists.
This year's performances arouse special interest due
to the inclusion in the program of "The Merchant of
Venice." (The other two performances include one
other Shakespearean, "Julius Caesar," and Sophocles'
"Oedipus Rex," which is a repeat from last year).
The revival of "The Merchant of Venice" is not an
original idea with the Stratford Shakespearean Fes-
tival of Canada Foundation. It has occurred. else-
where. The play was staged in New York in February
of this year, at Jan Hus House, starring Thomas Bar-
bour as "Shylock." The theme was a TV presentation
In London in March. The play was transformed into
a light opera under the title "The Gay Venetians" by
Tom Chatburn, a new British composer, went on a
provincial tour starting at Bradford and then was
presented in London on April 11.
Now comes Stratford, Ontario. When the announce-
ment first was made that "The Merchant of Venice"
was selected as one of the plays for this year's festival,
there was a stir in many quarters. It was recalled that
Shylock had been interpreted as an avaricious fellow;
that he was interpreted as being symbolic of "blood-
thirstiness" and "greed" ascribed by anti-Semites to
all Jews; that the play aroused hatred for Jews among
its audiences.
But there are arguments in refutation of these
feats. The world's most distinguished critics have ac-
cepted Shylock as one of Shakespeare's great charac-
ters, as "the only gentleman" in the entire cast of
The Merchant of Venice."
•* •
*
*
The Stratford undertaking lends itself especially to
a clearing of the atmosphere—to an assurance that
the proper interpretation will be given to a great play.
These assurances arise from the fact that Dr. Tyrone
Guthrie, one of the world's most distinguished direc-
tors—who directed "Oedipus Rex" at the Habimah
Theater in Tel Aviv in 1947—is managing a great
Jewish actor, Frederick Valk, as the Shylock in the
current production.
Furthermore, a most distin-
guished stage and- costume design-
er, Tanya Moiseiwitsch, daughter of
the famous Jewish pianist Benno
Moiseiwitsch, has a -Share in the
play. Also: an able young Jewish
girl—and a very pretty one-22-
year-old Charlotte Schrager of
Toronto, won a contest- to acquire
the role of Jessica. And a very able
non-Jewish actress, Frances Hy-
land, is the Portia in the play. ,
What is to be expected from such
leaders in a well-directed cast?

Dr. Guthrie, the brilliant Irish-
man, believes that the effect of the
play "depends upon the produc-
tion; also on the degree of preju-
dice of the audience." He has given
this Commentator the following
statement of his views, an explana-
tion in which Tanya Moiseiwitsch
and Frederick Valk concurred:

Dr. Guthrie
"I am aware that there has been some consider-

able opposition on the part__of Jewish members of
the community, to productions of Shakespear's 'The
Merchant of Venice.' In the light of the recent ter-
rible events in central Europe, it was all too under-
standable that Jews everywhere should be intensely
sensitive on such matters as the unsympathetic por-
trait of a Jew in the theater. Even when such sen-
sitivity transcended the bounds of reason, it was
easy to sympathize and would have been cruel to
offend it.
"I cannot feel, however, that most reasonable
Jews would not feel it was wise, or even expedient,
to create a climate where 'The Merchant of Venice'
must • either be banned, or only be produced in the
teeth of protest.

Spotlight on Stratford, Ontario, Where Shylock's Plea `Hath
not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions
• • •' Will Be Heard Again .. , The Answers to an Old Issue
Over the 'Only Gentleman' in Shakespeare's Play

Slomovitz

prof. L. I. Rabin°. ritz wrote about Shakespeare's =-
flattering use of the word "Jew" "as a term of con-
tempt, - as was the fashion of those days..." And he
added:

"But such was the genius of Shakespeare, that
in Shylock he portrayed a Jew who was not just a
villain, but a grand figure, higher in stature, than

Frances Hyland Charlotte Schrager Frederick Valk

"I do not propose to defend the play from a
charge of anti-Semitism. Whether or not it is anti-
Semitic depends upon the production; and also on
the degree of prejudice of the audience.
"The Stratford production is served by a • Jewish
actor who has suffered persecution because of his
race; by a designer of well-known Jewish family; my
own record, I venture to hope, acquits me of ,anti-
Semitic prejudice. It is our joint view that the play
is not anti-Semitic; that the performance is not
calculated to foster race-hatred; and that more
harm than good would be achieved by submitting to
what we consider unwarranted, if understandable,
protest against the production of one of the most
famous plays of one of the most sympathetic, broad-
minded and unprejudiced dramatists who ever lived."

This is a most interesting statement that calls for
additional evaluation. Your Commentator feels that
his points are logical; that the interpretation is a
major need in guiding the sentiments of the audi-
ence; that a sympathetic approach brings forward the
true values of the chief character Shylock: that he is
a proud defender of his own and his people's human
rights and that he is the only gentleman in the entire
play.
*
*
*
It was not necessary for Dr. Guthrie to seek acquit-
tal for himself from the charge of anti-Semitism. His
record is clear, his intentions are well known, his in-
terest in Israel has been affirmed. His Shakespearean
interests have led him as far back as 1940 to invite the
Czechoslovakian Jewish refugee, Frederick Valk, to
play Shylock for the Old Vic in Lancashire. When,
14 years later, he asked Valk again to play Shylock,
this time in Stratford, the Jewish actor's yes-reply
was enthusiastic.
Dr. Guthrie, in his statement to us, makes an ad-
mission, but answers his own concession—perhaps
inadvertently. • When he states that the anti-
Semitic aspect of the play depends upon the pro-
duction and on the degree of audience prejudice,

he negates the latter with the former. It is the
manner of interpretation that counts in the long

rim. A sympathetic approach MUST help create
good audience response and atmosphere.
< Thus, when the eminent New York Herald Tribune
critic, Walter F. Kerr, reviewed Thomas Barbour's
presentation of Shylock, he wrote (Feb. 24, 1955) that
in tackling the part Barbour "asks little in the way
of pity. His Shylock is a clear-headed, precise, almost
prim man of business with a fastidious manner and a
cutting intensity. He moistens his lips and speaks
with quick superiority. He flexes his tapering fingers
and thinks with admirable speed. He is not so much
degnified as haughty, not so much a patriarch as a
panther." On the other hand, describing "the gayer
Venetians," Mr. Kerr stated "you cannot help feeling
that, all in all, they are one of the meanest crews ever
to inhabit a comedy."
When the London Jewish Chronicle reported
(March 18, 1955) on the TV production of "The Mer-
chant of Venice," we read this statement: "Jewish
viewers may, of course, object to Shakespeare's por-
trayal of 16th-century Venetian Jewish characters,
but few will deny that, treated in the simple Eliza-
bethan manner, the TV production was superb." In
this production, too, Shylock dominated the play.

*

*

*

Last September, writing in the Rosh Hashanah
issue of the South African Jewish Times, Chief Rabbi

23 Groups Present Election Slates for Knesset

TEL AVIV, (JTA) — Thenty-
three election lists, a record
number in Israel's short parlia-
mentary history; have, been
presented to the central elec
tion committee headed by Chief
Justice Shimon Agranat, for the
Knesset elections scheduled to
be held July 26. The first and
second Knesset were contested
by 21 party lists.
The Mapai list was headed by
Moshe Sharett, David Ben Gur-
ion and Joseph Sprinzak. The
General Zionist list is headed by
Peretz Bernstein, Israel Rokach,
Shoshanah Persitz, Joseph Sa-
phir and Joseph Serlin.
Two principal religious lists
were entered, following the col-
lapse of negotiations for a
united religious front. One list,
made up of Mizrachi and Hapoel
Hamizrachi, is headed by Moshe
Shapiro, Yosef • Burg, Yitzhak
Raphael, Zorach Warhaftig, Dr.
Mordecai Nurock, Moshe Unna
and A. Grinberg. The other list
which is composed of Agudah
and Poale Agudah is led by

By Philip

Rabbi Yitzhak Meir Levine, I3en-
jamin Mintz, Rabbi Shiomo Lor-
entz, Rabbi Zalman - Kahana and
I. Ben-Yacob.
The right-wing Herut Party
entered a list headed by Men-
achem Beigin, Dr. Jochanan
Bader and Benjamin Avniel.
Lists were also entered by Ma-
pam, Leachdut Avodah, Progres-
sive Party, and the Communists<
Smaller election lists include:
Liberal list, headed by Moshe
Nussbacher; Israeli list, headed
by Meir Felled; Likud, a popular
economic movement headed by
the former general secretary of
the small merchants and shop
owners association, Ephraim
Guzmann; Yemenite Religious
list, whose chief candidate is
Zadok Izhari; the Yemenite As-
sociation list, headed by Zech-
arya Gluska; World Kn.esset Is-
rael list, a religious group, head-
ed by Itzhak Ashkneasi; a New
Aliya Front list, whose chief
candidate is Moshe Silbermanni
Jerushalmi; the Adult Workers
Association list, headed by AaroXi

Shatai, and the General Zionist
Sephardic list, whose principal
candidate is Eliyahu Elyasshar.
Five Arab lists were also sub-
mitted to the election con-mais-
sion, all of them affiliated with
and sponsored by Jewish parties.
Three of them, the Agricultural
and Development list, the Demo-
cratic list, and the Progress and
Labor list, are Mapai affiliates.
The General Zionists sponsored
the Central Arabiv list and the
Progressive Party sponsored the
Hamifneh nist (not to be con-
fused with the Lamifneh faction
of the Hapoel Hamizrachi).
Lamifneh faction of Hapoel
Hamizrachi, headed by Dr. Burg
and Mr. Unna, had refused to
enter the front with the Agudah
and Poale Agudah and Hapoel
Hamizrachi limited its affilia-
tion to Mizrachi, while Agudah
joined with Peale Agudah.
News of the • collapse of the
newly f ormed united religious
front was received with sorrow
by many religious leadera •

his Christian adversaries."
The chief Rabbi of South African Jewry outlined
the disregard in which Jews were held in the days of
Shakespeare. They were considered cruel, miserly,
uncharitable, blaspheming, "nay, even the Jew who
will not go to the ale with a Christian'." Dr. Rab-
inowitz then declared:
"Is not Shylock all of these? Is he not cruel with

his demand for his 'pound of flesh?' Is he not miser-
ly, making his money 'breed as fast as ewes and
rams,' with his 'dreaming of money bags,' with his
`My daughter, oh, my ducats?' Is he not uncharit-
able with his `to bait fish withal, if it will feed noth-
ing else, it will feed my revenge?' Is he not a
`blasphemer' with his '0 father Abram, what these
Christians are, whose own hard dealings teaches
them suspect the thought of others?' Nor, does he
not explicitly refuse to to to the ale with a Chris-
tian' with his 'I will buy with you, sell with you,
talk with you, walk with you, and so following. But
I will not eat with you, drink with you.'
• "And so Shylock the Jew of Shakespeare has all
the recognizable qualities of • the Jews of Shakes-
peare.' But with what understanding, and even
fleeting sympathy, does the Bard explain these un-
lovely characteristics! Why should he be charitable,
when 'You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog and
spat upon my Jewish gabardine?' Why should he not
seek his revenge for this treatment? 'Hath not a
Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions,
senses, affections, passions, etc . . . If you wrong us,
shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest,
we will resemble you in that' and he even sneers
at 'Christian example.'
"Viekved from this angle, does not the whole play
represent a courageous challenge thrown out to
`Christian' humanity. Yes, says Shakespeare, the
Jew is all that you say. Would you be different if
put in his place?"

*
*
But the Canadian Jewish Congress research direc-
tor, Louis Rosenberg, still holds to the view that it
was inadvisable for the Stratford Festival to include
"The Merchant of Venice" in this year's repertoire. In
an article in the Canadian Congress Bulletin, he ex-
pressed the view that "many of the well-wishers and
supporters of the drama in Canada regret the choice
and would have felt much happier if some other in
the extensive repertoire of Shakespearean plays had
been chosen."
Nevertheless, this Commentator has confidence
that the eminent Tyrone Guthrie, that the able actor
Frederick Valk, that his charming young assistant,
Charlotte Schrager, and that the influence of the
great scenic and stage designer, Tanya Moiseiwitsch,
will combine to influence the creation of a great pro-
duction. at Stratford next Wednesday evening.
The interesting issue that has arisen over the re-
vival of "The Merchant of Venice" has other fascinat-
ing angles. When the dispute arose over the showing
of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," because it por-
trayed a disgusting Jewish character, Fagin, our people
in Israel could not understand our protests. They now
view life more normally. They feel that it is possible
to have a Jewish villain in a play: that there must be
recognition of the fact that there are good and bad
people everywhere. Perhaps the Israelis will find it
difficult also to understand a protest against "The
Merchant of Venice." But so will many of use here,
who believe that Shylock IS the only gentleman in
that play; and that if he is interpreted properly the
production can be pro- rather than anti-Jewish.
The genius of the producers and the actors helps
create some impatience at waiting for the rise of the
curtain to see the materialization of their efforts. We
have no doubt that, once again, the Stratford Festival,
with "The Merchant of Venice," will be an unforget-
table experience

Discriminatory Celebration Stopped
By Michigan Retailer's Association

The Michigan Retailers Asso-
ciation has taken a strong stand
against retail business promo-
tions which tend to derogatate
members of minority groups, it
was announced by Benjamin M.
Rose, of Wyandotte, chairman of
the Michigan Regional Advisory
Board ' of Anti- Defamation
League of Bnai Brith.
Otis F. Cook, executive vice
president of the Michigan Re-
tailers Association, when in-
formed of the presentation of
"Maxwell Street Days" in sev-
eral Michigan communities, is-
sued strong statements in oppo-
sition to such celebrations. In
essence, the celebrations consist-
ed of the use of derogatory
terms, costumes, accents and
antics which tended to stereo-
type and caricature American
citizens of the Jewish faith.
In a letter to Mr. Rose, Mr.
Cook indicated that he was per-.
sonally opposed to "Maxwell
Street Days," and enclosed bul-

letins which had gone forth to
179 Chambers of Commerce and
retail associations affiliated with
the -Michigan Retailers Associa-
tion.
In the MRA bulletin, Mr. Cook
referred to the celebration as
"completely unfair and stupid
. cast aspersions on a segment
of our population and used that
segment as a show to draw cus-

It is completely un-
American in its concept ... just
unthinking blunders. . . Let's
have more retail promotions in

tomers.

our communities but not at the
expense of plain old fashioned
decency . . ."
Mr. Rose, and the Michigan
Regional Advisory Board, ex-
pressed commendation and con-
gratulations to Mr. Cook on his
forthright stand in opposition to
"unfair and un-American as-
pects" of retail business promo-

tion.

2

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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, June 24, 1954

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4.11.

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