The Merchant of Venice (opera) 2013. Keith Warner directed the production, which was also supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and the Grand Theatre – National Opera, Warsaw. The opera libretto follows the plot of the original play very closely, generally using Shakespeare's own words. Many of the minor characters are excised. Act I introduces the melancholy merchant Antonio, his friend Bassanio who asks Antonio for money to back his wooing of Portia, the Jewish moneylender Shylock, his daughter Jessica and her Gentile lover, Lorenzo. Despite evident mutual personal animosity, Shylock agrees to lend Antonio 3000 ducats against the pledge of a pound of the
Billy S. Billy S. "Billy S." is a song recorded by Canadian musician Skye Sweetnam. It was released as her debut major label single in 2003, and was the first single from her album, "Noise From the Basement". The song was also featured on the soundtrack to the movie "How to Deal". The song's title, "Billy S." stands for "Billy Shakespeare", a reference to William Shakespeare, whom Skye refers to throughout the song. Sweetnam thought that the title "Billy Shakespeare" was too long, and decided to shorten it. The music video for "Billy S.", filmed in Southern California, features Skye Sweetnam recording