The state’s only Shakespeare troupe will launch its third statewide tour of 2016 at the end of September in downtown Clarksburg, West Virginia.

 

Vintage Theatre Company Founding Producer and Artistic Director Jason A. Young cordially invites audiences to attend a performance of The Rustic Mechanicals’ Blinking Idiot Tour of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

 

The Rustic Mechanicals, founded by Celi Oliveto, is the state’s only professional Shakespeare troupe. Touring three shows annually, their final show of 2016 begins its tour with two Pay-What-You-Can Previews at Clarksburg’s Uptown Event Center at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30. There is no set admission fee; instead, audience members are invited to donate what they believe is appropriate or what they are able to give.

 

“Most people label The Merchant of Venice as a problem play,” said Young. “I don’t know if I would call it problematic but rather complicated. It certainly walks a razor’s edge at times and provides a very interesting commentary on humanity while still being incredibly entertaining.”

 

In the melting pot of Venice, trade is God. With its ships plying the globe, the city opens its arms to all - as long as they come prepared to do business and there is profit to be made.

 

When the gold is flowing, all is well, but when a contract between Antonio and Shylock is broken, simmering racial tensions boil over.

A wronged father and a despised outsider, Shylock looks to exact the ultimate price for a deal sealed in blood.

 

The Rustic Mechanicals’ production features Jim Matthews as Antonio, Josh Brooks as Bassanio, and Gretchen Ross as Portia. John Fallon is taking on the iconic role of Shylock, with Justin Grow as Lorenzo, Steve McElroy as Gratiano, and Trina Byard as Nerissa. Rounding out the cast are Isaac Covey as Lancelet and Balthazar, Kayla Hudimac as Jessica and Salania, and Celi Oliveto as Salarina.

 

Young and Oliveto direct the production with Technical Direction by David Byard, Production Design by Trina Byard, Production Management by Kaici Lore, and Dramaturgy by John Shirley.

 

“We have a wonderful team working on this show, maybe the most complete team we have ever had,” said Young. “The cast is fearless and smart, and they handle the balance of realism and heightened circumstances that this script demands.”

 

After the two preview performances, The Blinking Idiot Tour will have eight additional performances throughout the month of October. The troupe will be at the Tamarack in Beckley, WV, at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, followed by a stop at the LaBelle Theatre in South Charleston, WV, on Sunday, October 2 for a 5:00 p.m. matinee to complete the first weekend.

 

The tour will pick back up at the Monongalia Arts Center (MAC) in Morgantown on Friday, October 7 at 9:00 p.m. as a part of the Morgantown Arts Walk, followed by a free outdoor performance on Saturday, October 8 at 5:00 p.m. at Toad Hall in Grafton, WV, and a stop at West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Loar Auditorium for a free matinee at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 9. The second weekend of the tour concludes with a special educational performance for Fairmont’s Learning Options, Inc. at the Police Reserve Building at East Marion Park in Fairmont, WV. on Monday, October 10 at 7:30p,m. This performance will feature a pre-show and a post-show discussion with the troupe.

 

The Mechanicals will then finish off their Blinking Idiot Tour with a performance at The Arts Center of Randolph County in Elkins, WV on Saturday, October 15 at 8:00 p.m., and a Sunday 2:00 p.m. matinee at the Thomas Education Center in Thomas, West Virginia on October 16.

 

For more information about The Blinking Idiot Tour of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, email VintageTheatreCo@gmail.com or call 1-855-VTC-8588.

 

“Touring Shakespeare is a 400-year-old-tradition,” said Young. “These troupe members understand the nobility of the work and the heritage that they are a part of, and with the powerful message of this show, I fully expect this tour to be a labor of love for us all.”