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
Jessica Bendinger Jessica Bendinger Jessica Bendinger (born November 10, 1966) is an American screenwriter and novelist. She has written several films, including 2000's "Bring It On", 2004's "First Daughter" and 2006's "Aquamarine". She was also a writer and creative consultant for "Sex and the City", as well as a producer of the 2005 film "The Wedding Date", starring Debra Messing. She also wrote and directed "Stick It", released in April 2006 as her directorial debut. Bendinger is a former model who worked for designer Stephen Sprouse and appeared on the runway in the film "Slaves of New York". She was named by