From Shakespeare's timeless classic comedy "The Merchant of Venice", Tanghalang Pilipino gives a whole new light and perspective to it with DER KAUFMANN (Ang Negosyante ng Venecia). With translation by Rolando Tinio from the original play by William Shakespeare, and directed by Rodolfo Vera and Tuxqs Rutaquio.
As a Filipino adaptation of one of the famous stage plays, Der Kaufmann comes to life onstage with a very cryptic yet critical approach to the story which has been told and lived in many stages around the globe. Taking into the limelight of the theme is the Antisemitism movement and homosexuality aligned with the plot opens it into a whole new view of the celebrated piece as more of dark and devious bringing the audience into the period of the Second World War during the mass execution of Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals performed by the Nazis.
Though it may be viewed as symbolism, the characters and the story seems to tell the news ahead of his time which (coincidentally) would make a chilling similarities to discrimination and unusual behavior. The play would also place itself into a timeless space with costumes of past and present coexisting in the timeline without being too loud with their fashion statement.
Having the play spoken in formal Filipino is a complicated move to have from a English play which was translated by , is something that Filipinos would need to experience in the age of evolving language along with the culture.
DER KAUFMANN, in the visions of the director and playwright has opened a whole new experience to this classic tale and has also opened an interest of its message as it is now staged in the 21st century.
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