KARACHI, Dec 30: Shakespearean plays always pose a challenge to theatre persons for the simple reason that the actors have to be aware of the poetic language that the great playwright masterfully employs as his medium and at the same time being cognizant of the socio-cultural atmosphere that he creates through his characters.

The challenge becomes doubly demanding when the actors have to grasp the translated version of Shakespeare’s plays. Translations can never do justice to the original script because the rhythm and flow of one language cannot be fully transferred into another form of verbal communication. Still, they are the next best thing.

It was nice to see the second and third-year students of the National Academy of Performing Arts putting their heart and soul into an Urdu version of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice directed by Akbar Islam at Napa’s auditorium on Saturday evening.

The story: Bassanio (Shahjahan Narejo) is financially challenged and needs 3,000 ducats. He discusses it with his friend Antonio (Farhan Alam), an affluent merchant of Venice. Antonio is into shipping business. He offers to be the guarantor and looks to borrow money from a wealthy Jew, Shylock (Hammad Sartaj). Shylock agrees to give the amount on the condition that if he does not return the amount in three months then Antonio has to give up a pound of his flesh. They agree.

In a parallel track and in another setting Portia (Shameen Khan) in her home is visited by suitors. Her deceased father has left her a fortune. Portia is an intelligent young woman. Her suitors are required to choose between a lead, silver or gold casket. The one who gets thecasket containing her portrait would become her husband.

Jessica (Sonia Ashraf) Shylock’s daughter wants to convert to Christianity against her father’s will and marry Lorenzo (Noel Francis). She elopes with him and takes some of her father’s fortune. Angry Shylock vows revenge.

Bassanio goes to Portia’s place and feels comfortable in choosing the casket. Before him the prince of Morocco and the prince of Aragon try their luck but fail to get the right casket. Bassanio opts for the lead casket, the right one. On the other hand, Gratiano (Faraz Chhotani) flirts with Nerissa (Maha Ali), Portia's maid.

The story progresses and Bassanio’s friends arrive with a message that Antonio’s ship has not yet arrived and Shylock demands his pound of flesh because the money is not paid. This makes Bassanio displeased. Portia reassures him that all will be well. The men go back to Venice.

Portia and Nerissa make a plan to help Antonio and tell Lorenzo and Jessica to look after the house while they wait for their husbands. They dress up as (male) lawyers to defend Antonio in court. The two women enter the courtroom with a message that the doctor Balthazar(Portia) has been sent to replace the original doctor. Portia begins her case with a plea for mercy. She begs Shylock to forfeit the bond and accept three times the amount. Shylock refuses and wants to take his revenge on the Christians who have criticised him because he is Jewish. Portia then reads the bond and discovers that Shylock is only allowed to take one pound of Antonio’s flesh. She tells him that he cantake his pound of flesh but no blood shall be shed. Shylock is forced to forfeit the bond.

The men thank Balthazar and her clerk and offer them anything they desire. Portia and Nerissa both ask for Bassanio’s and Gratiano’s rings. They hesitantly hand it to them as it was a present from their wives. Portia and Nerissa return home. After that Bassanio, Antonio, and Gratiano return with the good news. Portia and Nerissa ask about the rings, the men apologise and explain the situation. Portia and Nerissa show them the rings and reveal that they had assumed the roles of the two doctors. A happy ending!

Hammad Sartaj in the pivotal and iconic role of Shylock was good. One sincerely hopes that he was made to see the likes of Al Pacino having their own interpretation of the character. Hammad Sartaj had the requisite moves and should be wholeheartedly commended for it.However, the deviousness of the character, not to mention the sensitive side to him during the ‘hath not Jew eyes’ speech was lacking which is not the fault of the actor. He is just a student and too young to understand the subtleties of important Shakespearean figures.

Shahjahan Narejo in the role of Bassanio was impressive. He seemed to have worked hard on his pronunciation and gestures. Shaheen Khan as Portia in the first half of the play hurried through her lines and there was an element of urgency in her performance. But in the significant court scene she lifted her performance and acted with profound understanding of the situation.

Her footwork, her playing with Shylock’s emotions and her dallying with Bassanio successfully engaged the audience with the scene. If only the ‘quality of mercy’ speech was done a tad tenderly, she woud have been fabulous.

Farhan Alam Siddiqui as Antonio was fine. He was trying to add too much to his original voice, therefore his voice modulations sounded a little filmy. Hammad Khan’s comings and goings as Launcelot provided comic relief and Hammad Siddique in the role of the Prince of Morocco was patchy but had the right tone.

The couple of Maha Ali and Faraz Chhotani did just as was required of their roles. Sonia Ashraf looked nervous which was why she fluffed her lines and at times went through the motions, whereas Noel Francis fitted well in the larger scheme of things.And Akbar Islam, by being at the helm of the Napa’s sixth batch’s final production, proved that he could take on big projects as director.