View source for Shylock, or The Merchant of Venice Preserved

''[[Shylock, or The Merchant of Venice Preserved]]'' is a travesty by Francis Talfourd (1828-1862)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Talfourd]

The full title is: ''[[Shylock, or The Merchant of Venice Preserved|Shylock, or the Merchant of Venice preserved: an entirely new reading of Shakespeare from an edition hitherto undiscovered by modern authorities, and which it is hoped may be received as the stray leaves of a Jerusalem hearty-joke]]'' and is referred to in the text as an "[[extravaganza]]".

==The original text==

A travesty based on Shakespeare's '''''[[The Merchant of Venice]]''''', it was first performed at the Olympic Theatre, London, in 1849. Published by T.H. Lacy, London, in 1850. 

'''See also ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'''''

==Translations and adaptations==

== Performance history in South Africa ==

1860: Performed as ''[[Shylock, or The Merchant of Venice Preserved]]'' by the [[Cape Town Theatrical Club]] in the [[Theatre Royal]] on 29 March, with ''[[Helping Hands]]'' (Taylor). The brass band of the [[Cape Royal Rifles]] also performed.

1867: Possibly the play performed as a '''''[[Shylock Burlesque]]''''' on 5 March 1867 during  a [[Benefit Performance for the Somerset Hospital]] in Cape Town was arranged by the officers of the [[9th Regiment]], led by [[Captain Borton]], and performed in the [[Theatre Royal]] in association with Mrs [[Marie Duret]] and [[Mrs Cooper]]. It also featured the regimental orchestra, led by [[Signor Bonicoli]] and a performance of ''[[Slasher and Crasher]]'' (Morton).

1867: The performance of 5 March repeated on 13 September in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, as a benefit for madame [[Marie Duret]]. Again done by [[Madame Duret]] and the [[Le Roy-Duret Company]] in association with [[Captain Borton]] and the officers of the [[9th Regiment]], and included a performance of the ''[[Macbeth Travestie]]'' (Talfourd).

== Sources ==

Facsimile version of the first edition by T.H. Lacy, The Internet Archive[https://archive.org/details/shylockormerchan00talf]

[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp.145-6, 150, 227, 259, 279, .

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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