The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare's Globe ****

 The Merchant of Venice is a hard play to get right. Putting it mildly, it is problematic in issues of race and gender. It is a play full of contradictions. In one moment Shylock gives a truly moving speech about the poor treatment of Jews and the another he is being made to become a Christian as a hilarious punishment. At one point Portia is put up on a pedestal, a prize for suitors to win by picking the right box, and at another she is showing true strength and saving the friend of her husbands life. Whilst no production could nor should censor the antisemitism and sexism out of the play, the Globe's new production makes this a play about antisemitism rather that an antisemitic play due to a poignant and moving end to the show. The big selling point for this production are the Pryce father and daughter who are both excellent. However, to say that they steal the show would be wrong. Jonathan Pryce is moving and wonderful in the role but he never is the star and is instead part of a wonderful company of actors. The start depicts a world of debauchery with a display of anti Jewish sentiment that creates the atmosphere of the production which isn't totally maintained through the piece yet there are dark undercurrents that run through despite some wonderful comic turns from Christopher Logan and Stefan Adegbola. Britton's designs are, as always, brutal and harsh to accompany Jonathan Munby's subversion of Shakespeare's comedy into a tragic piece. Jules Maxwell's compositions reflect the religious aspects of the play well with bewitching singing, especially from Nuno Silva. This is a confident start to Dromgoole's last season at the Globe with a piece that is conveyed with humanity and sophistication along with the laughs along the way.