Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Monday Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Medford neighbors take up arms against a sea of graffiti Missing teen possibly seen in Florida Emergency services, Feb. 22 Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Education Grace to assume school governance AHS principal up for national award Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines A question of punishment Logos to receive a slice of Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park Environment Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow State News Brown says she'll preserve Oregon death penalty moratorium Tentative deal reached in West Coast port labor dispute State Senate votes to dissolve Cover Oregon Psychic gets 8 years for con of timber heir Economists project 'kicker' rebates Nation - World Obituaries Lois Gunsolus Wilson Donald Max Long Betty E. Schmidt Anne Brown Stewart Richard Nudelman, 70 years Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Grizzlies overcome deficit to beat Blazers Challengers, Crusaders rake in SCL awards Hahn wins Riviera after playoff Bubble Breaker? Wood sets franchise points record in win Varsity 541 College Sports Bubble Breaker? Beavers Pac-12 champs with win LOCAL REPORT Beavers wrap up road trip with win SOU lays claim to another regional title Pro Sports Grizzlies overcome deficit to beat Blazers Hahn wins Riviera after playoff Wood sets franchise points record in win Gordon, Pelicans down Heat Singler starts in debut with Thunder Community Sports Business Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Silvio Calabi: Kia Soul mixes practicality with personality Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Learn about Oregon's local crowdfunding options Blog: Random Acts of Kindness Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul People In Business People in Business Transportation Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Mark L. Hopkins: History speaks to us on our present economic situation Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Our View: Smell of trouble may spark marijuana limits Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Editorials Our View: Smell of trouble may spark marijuana limits Voter bill secures a fundamental right Our view: Will Brown reach out to rural Oregon? Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Letters to the Editor Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Letters to the editor, Feb. 18 Columns Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Independent Party focuses on the public interest Milbank: Walker's cowardice on view in NY Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work 'Big' government is not so big after all Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Lifestyle Latest stories Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining It Is What It Is: Girls just wanna have fu-un Silvio Calabi: Kia Soul mixes practicality with personality Food Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Fire and Smoke Tammy Kelly: Comfort food makes cold weather better Home and Garden Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Health Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized ... Get Up & Go: Monday, Feb. 23 ... Car crashes into new south Medford home ... Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized ... Get Up & Go: Monday, Feb. 23 ... Car crashes into new south Medford home ... Series offers perspectives on Shylock OSF's production of 'The Merchant of Venice' leaves some Jews troubled ASHLAND — One of Shakespeare's more vile villains is Shylock of "The Merchant of Venice." He's also Jewish, which has made the play one of the Bard's more controversial. Comment By Myles Murphy MailTribune.com By Myles Murphy Posted May. 13, 2010 @ 12:01 am By Myles Murphy Posted May. 13, 2010 @ 12:01 am If you go --> What: "Perspectives on 'The Merchant of Venice,' " a series of talks sponsored by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Temple Emek Shalom When: 7 tonight, with OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch an... » Read more X If you go What: "Perspectives on 'The Merchant of Venice,' " a series of talks sponsored by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Temple Emek Shalom When: 7 tonight, with OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch and creative consultant Lenny Niemark Where: Temple Emek Shalom,1800 E. Main St. Additional talks: "An Actor's Perspective" with Tony Heald, 7 p.m. Monday, June 14; "A Historical Perspective" with Earl Showerman at 7 p.m. Monday, July 12 For information: Visit www.emekshalom.org or call 541-488-2909. » Social News ASHLAND — One of Shakespeare's more vile villains is Shylock of "The Merchant of Venice." He's also Jewish, which has made the play one of the Bard's more controversial. In conjunction with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's latest production of "Merchant," Ashland's Temple Emek Shalom is playing host to a series of discussions examining Jewish perspectives on the character of Shylock. "The importance of this series has to do with opening a dialogue within the Jewish community to discuss the implications of this play in a historic context and in this current production," said Lenny Neimark, temple member and creative consultant for "Merchant." The festival has a long history of producing the popular comedy. "Merchant" was one of only two plays — the other being "Twelfth Night" — put on in the very first OSF season in the summer of 1935. Over the years, Shylock has stalked the stage 13 times in Ashland, making "Merchant" one of the most-produced plays at OSF. Festival founder Angus Bowmer was the first to put on the moneylender's beard, a role he reprised with regularity. In the play, Shylock loans money to one of the lead characters, demanding "a pound of flesh" if the funds are not repaid. The word "Shylock" has become synonymous with "loan shark." The fact that the character is Jewish, coupled with Shakespeare's immense impact on Western civilization, has contributed significantly to the derogatory stereotype of Jews as greedy. The play itself was even used as Nazi propaganda, increasing its controversial history. In Ashland, one of the most recent productions in 1991 was disturbing for many in the Jewish community, according to Neimark. "People didn't want to see the show and some thought it shouldn't be produced," Neimark said. "What I remember most was there seemed to be deeply divided camps in the Jewish community. Some didn't want to see the play at all and others wanted to discuss it and frame it in the modern context. I remember the controversy well." "1991 was a big controversy," Temple Emek Shalom Rabbi Marc Sirinsky confirmed. "But in 2001, the festival really reached out to the Jewish community, and they did a wonderful job of it." Sirinsky, who has a theater background and strong ties with the festival, welcomes the chance to work with OSF on projects such as the "Merchant of Venice" talks. Tony Heald plays Shylock in this season's production, directed by OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch. Heald is Jewish and believes that gives him additional insight into how to portray the character with honesty. "In some ways it frees me," Heald said. "Sometimes productions of 'Merchant of Venice' overcorrect to soften the anti-Semitism. I don't think we need to, as long as Shylock is a human being who acts with human motives. The fact that he loses his way is true for individuals of all religions and cultures." In preparing for the role, Heald has put a lot of energy into understanding Shylock's importance to the play and his specific motivations. "His function in the play is to supply the threat. It's crucial that Shylock be a serious threat," Heald said. "The reason he's a threat is not gratuitous hatred, it's the outgrowth of endless persecution and strong feeling on Shylock's part that he's been wronged." By examining and bringing out the origins of Shylock's behavior, his actions become the actions of a fallen man and are not tied to his religion, Heald said. "We're trying to do Shakespeare's play," Heald said. "There's no point in trying to distort it, but we have to be honest with it." Heald's casting as Shylock is important on many levels, according to Sirinsky. "Bill (Rauch) involved me in the debate on whether to do the play," Sirinsky said. "Shylock had never been played by a Jew before. That was an acknowledgment of his wanting to do the play with as much integrity as he could." There are still concerns about the play in Ashland's Jewish community. "There is among a few people some real trepidation and anger that it's being done," Sirinsky said. "But mainly there's a lot of respect for how the festival is approaching the play." The Temple Emek Shalom series "Perspectives on 'The Merchant of Venice'" includes three events, with the first, "The Merchant of Venice — A Director's Perspective," being held at 7 tonight at the Temple, 1800 E. Main St. Rauch and Neimark will be the speakers. The series follows up with "An Actor's Perspective" with Heald at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 14, and "A Historical Perspective" with Earl Showerman at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 12. "Merchant of Venice" runs at OSF June 3 through Oct. 10. As creative consultant, Neimark walks a fine line between cultural sensitivity and being faithful to the artistic intent of Shakespeare. "As with all Shakespeare, it is an enormously complex play," he said. "On the surface, it's kind of a fairy tale, but in the middle you have this amazing character of Shylock who happens to be Jewish and plays quite the villainous role." Neimark said he wants to help people come to grips with the complexities of the play. "I'm hoping it will help to be more up front about these discussions ahead of time — not that we'll all agree," he said. "In part my role is to bring another set of eyes to the project with an eye to historical context." But through the rehearsal process, Neimark has experienced firsthand the pain certain sections of the play hold for Jews. "As a Jew, I've been very aware of the difficulty of this play, although it hasn't bothered me as much as maybe other members of the community," Neimark said. "However, during the rehearsal process I found myself deeply, deeply disturbed at times. I understand why people could be so upset." Festival members involved in the production also are very aware of the sensitive nature of the play, and the difficulty in approaching it fairly and honestly. "For if we find ourselves eagerly seeking out the sympathetic parts in the play, heaving a sigh of relief as we cherry-pick evidence that Shakespeare was, after all, enlightened 'like us,' then we must also be brave enough to face those attitudes and reactions we prefer to think we don't share," wrote "Merchant of Venice" dramaturg Judith Rosen in the OSF 2010 Illuminations publication. The inclusion of the discussion series is crucial in helping community members put the play in context, Sirinsky believes. "The play is called a comedy, but I don't see it as a comedy," Sirinsky said. "It's more like a tragedy or a warning. As much as it's a story about love, it's also a story about hate. To do the play means to tell the love story but to tell the hate story as well. Hate is an abomination — the cause of much pain and distress. When you take on an issue such as hatred, you have a responsibility to go beyond the play." Myles Murphy is an editor and reporter with the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at [email protected]. By Myles Murphy MailTribune.com By Myles Murphy Posted May. 13, 2010 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501