Saturday Lunch, Lecture and Film
Professor Paul Snowden discusses Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
followed by a screening of the acclaimed 2004 movie of the play
June 7, 2025

Doors open 11:30; Lunch 11:45; Talk 12:30-13:15.
DVD viewing 13:25-16:00 (In English with Japanese subtitles / 130 minutes)
(Dessert and coffee will be served during an intermission.)

Written around 1596, this play features some widely-known Shakesperean characters. Contrary to some popular understanding, Shylock is not the Merchant of the title, but a wealthy Jew who provides a loan to a Venetian merchant, Antonio.  The terms of the loan (or "bond" as it is termed in the play) are what is now a common idiom: "a pound of flesh".

Next most well known must be Portia, disguised as a male lawyer making the famous and moving speech about "the quality of Mercy" in an attempt to dissuade Shylock from taking his pound of flesh.

To create what is one of his most famous plays, Shakespeare combines and inter-relates two very separate plots, which creates an absorbing mix of romance, suspense, and humour. This movie production, with Al Pacino as Shylock is a carefully shortened adaptation that reflects some modern social attitudes, but also presents authentic Venetian scenes of a city that was just at its heyday as a great trading port.  Indeed, the scenes are far more authentic than could have been depicted on stage by Shakespeare, who never visited Venice.  

The presenter spent one semester as an exchange professor in Venice in 2011.  
In addition to speaking about the play itself, he will also comment on how much, or little, Venice has changed since the end of the sixteenth century.

Notes: Cost, 4,950 yen for members, 5,500 yen for guests (includes lunch and tax)
Menu: There is a cash bar and drink tickets are available at the Front Desk.　
Please reserve by phone or email: 03-3211-3161 or front@fccj.or.jp.　
Cancellations accepted until 6 p.m. on June 3.

The Entertainment Committee

沙翁土曜午餐会(シェークスピアランチ会) ヴェニスの商人

6月7日 (土) 11時45分から16時 (DVD鑑賞130分)
開場: 11:30; ランチ: 11:45; 解説講義 12:30-13:15.DVD鑑賞 (英語、日本語字幕付き/ 130分) 13:25-16:00
(デザートとコーヒーが中断休憩時に提供されます。）
講師: ポール・スノウデン

シャイロックを演じるアル・パチーノ。借金を返せないアントーニオに肉１ポンドを要求するが結果はいかに？
ロマンス、サスペンス、ユーモアあふれる作品をスノウデン教授がヴェニスでの経験を交えながらシェイクスピア初心者にも分かりやすくお伝えします。

会費 4,950 円 (会員)、5,500 円 (非会員)。
お申し込みはフロント・デスクまで。電話 03-3211-3161 E-mail front@fccj.or.jp
6月3日（火）18:00以降のキャンセルはフル・チャージとなります。
                
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