Latest Issues
Notes
-
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice is included in AustLit because it was produced in Australian theatres during the colonial era.
Production Details
-
First produced London, England, ca. 1596.
-
Performed at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, New South Wales, September 1834.
-
Performed at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales, May 1838.
-
Performed at the Prince of Wales Opera House, Sydney, February 1868.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Bobby J. on Shylock
1934
single work
short story
humour
— Appears in: The Herald , 12 June no. 17807 1934; (p. 6) -
The Playwright at Work
1923
single work
correspondence
humour
— Appears in: The Home , (Spring) 1 September vol. 4 no. 3 1923; (p. 48, 80, 82) At head of letters: The following letters, which still lie undiscovered in a forgotten cellar in the ruins of New Place, Stratford, may throw light on the vexed question: 'Which was the Jew / That Shakespeare drew?' -
The Muffs in Shakespeare
1908
single work
review
— Appears in: The Theatre : An Illustrated Monthly Devoted to the Stage , December 1908; (p. 19)
— Review of The Merchant of Venice 1594-1597 single work drama A review of the Sydney Muffs' production of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (Royal Standard Theatre, Sydney; 11-13 November 1909). -
The Theatres, &c.
1868
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 9 May vol. 4 no. 110 (New Series) 1868; (p. 594)
— Review of The Lady of Lyons; or, Love and Pride 1838 single work drama ; Macbeth 1606 single work drama ; Othello 1604 single work drama ; The Merchant of Venice 1594-1597 single work drama ; Under the Gaslight ; Or, Life and Love in These Times 1867 single work dramaJaques reviews productions of Lady of Lyons, Macbeth, Othello and The Merchant of Vencie at the Theatre Royal, and Under the Gaslight at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, focusing particularly on the quality of the acting.
-
The Peripatetic Philosopher
1868
single work
prose
— Appears in: The Australasian , 9 May vol. 4 no. 110 (New Series) 1868; (p. 593)Q. confesses that, in his railing against the supposed wrongdoing of R. H. Horne in relation to a re-working of Shakespeare's character 'Shylock', he has himself committed a wrong: 'I have leant upon the broken reed of the Sydney press and it has pierced my hand. I have done an injustice, and must repair it.' (For Q.'s original comments, see 'The Peripatetic Philosopher' Australasian, 11 April 1868: 465.)
Q. was misled by a Sydney newspaper report into believing that there had been a public performance of an adapted version of Shylock; in fact, Horne had created a 'dramatic speculation as to what might have passed through Shylock's mind on listening to certain parts of Portia's lines of defence, supposing the same trial ... had occurred in Venice in the present century'. Horne's speculation was performed by Walter Montgomery at a private entertainment.
Q. also comments on several political and social matters affecting Melbourne.
-
The Muffs in Shakespeare
1908
single work
review
— Appears in: The Theatre : An Illustrated Monthly Devoted to the Stage , December 1908; (p. 19)
— Review of The Merchant of Venice 1594-1597 single work drama A review of the Sydney Muffs' production of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (Royal Standard Theatre, Sydney; 11-13 November 1909). -
Royal Victoria Theatre
1838
single work
review
— Appears in: Commercial Journal and Advertiser , 4 April vol. 4 no. 255 1838; (p. 2)
— Review of The Honey Moon 1805 single work drama ; The King's Command; Or, All for Love 1838 single work drama ; The Merchant of Venice 1594-1597 single work dramaA review of a performance of John Tobin's The Honey Moon, The King's Command; Or, All for Love, and William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, 31 March and 2 April 1838.
-
Royal Victoria Theatre
1838
single work
review
— Appears in: Commercial Journal and Advertiser , 14 April vol. 4 no. 258 1838; (p. 2)
— Review of The Merchant of Venice 1594-1597 single work drama ; The Queer Subject 1836 single work dramaReview of performances at the Royal Victoria Theatre on 10 April 1838.
-
The Theatres, &c.
1868
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 9 May vol. 4 no. 110 (New Series) 1868; (p. 594)
— Review of The Lady of Lyons; or, Love and Pride 1838 single work drama ; Macbeth 1606 single work drama ; Othello 1604 single work drama ; The Merchant of Venice 1594-1597 single work drama ; Under the Gaslight ; Or, Life and Love in These Times 1867 single work dramaJaques reviews productions of Lady of Lyons, Macbeth, Othello and The Merchant of Vencie at the Theatre Royal, and Under the Gaslight at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, focusing particularly on the quality of the acting.
-
Bobby J. on Shylock
1934
single work
short story
humour
— Appears in: The Herald , 12 June no. 17807 1934; (p. 6) -
Theatre Royal : The Merchant of Venice
1867
single work
review
— Appears in: The Ballarat Courier , Saturday, 7 September no. 78 1867; (p. 2) A favourable review of Mr Anderson's performance, as Shylock, for his benefit concert. Following the performance Mr Anderson made a speech in which he praised and thanked both the Ballarat audiences and the newspaper critics for their 'talented and honest' reviews. -
The Playwright at Work
1923
single work
correspondence
humour
— Appears in: The Home , (Spring) 1 September vol. 4 no. 3 1923; (p. 48, 80, 82) At head of letters: The following letters, which still lie undiscovered in a forgotten cellar in the ruins of New Place, Stratford, may throw light on the vexed question: 'Which was the Jew / That Shakespeare drew?' -
The Theatre
1838
single work
column
— Appears in: Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser , 1 May vol. 36 no. 4012 1838; (p. 2)The author, probably William Kerr the Sydney Gazette's theatre critic, criticises the selection of plays for the 3 May 1838 performances at the Royal Victoria Theatre. The author writes that 'the pieces selected for representation on Thursday night, when the sons of St. Patrick patronize the theatre, are the Merchant of Venice, and the Irish Tutor[Richard Butler, 1822]. We confess we are somewhat surprised at the choice though we know not with whom it rested. The latter piece may be appropriate enough for the occasion, but the first piece is so very hackneyed, and withal so indifferently placed, that we cannot compliment the selector, whoever he may be, on his choice.' The author continues with adverse comment on the abilities of Sydney, New South Wales actors in the plays and recommends that the plays Married Life [John Baldwin Buckstone, 1834] and Paddy's Wedding (the latter probably a ballad by Charles Dibdin the Elder) be performed instead.
-
Royal Victoria Theatre : The Merchant of Venice &c.
1838
single work
advertisement
— Appears in: Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser , 3 May vol. 36 no. 4013 1838; (p. 3) Commercial Journal and Advertiser , 2 May vol. 4 no. 263 1838; (p. 2)Advertisement for performance at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, on 3 May 1838 ‘Under the distinguished Patronage of the Sons of St Patrick’ of William Shakespeare's 'Play in 5 Acts, entitled The Merchant of Venice' and 'the Farce, called The Irish Tutor'.
