The Jew of Malta
Swan Theatre
Stratford
REVENGE is on the cards at the Swan Theatre.
The Jew of Malta not only tells the tale of how a man will do just about anything to keep his riches but also the lengths he will go to so his darkest secrets aren’t found out.
Jasper Britton, who plays the evil Barabas, uses Machiavellian techniques to get his revenge and restore his wealth and power from the first act where he is forced to hand over his riches and give them to Ferneze, the Governor of Malta so he can beat the Turks.
He uses his daughter Abigail (Catrin Stewart) and slave Ithamore (Lanre Malaolu) as deadly pawns to assist him retrieve some of his riches and to cover up his part in the fatal duel that kills the Governor’s son Don Lodowick and his daughter’s true love Don Mathias.
Britton alongside the rest of the cast ensure that Christopher Marlowe’s anti-semitism themes are at the forefront of the play yet hidden behind the various plots and schemes which unfold and only at the end do they come to light.
However Marlowe leaves audiences asking who is the true Machiavelli as Barabas does everything to see the downfall of his rivals but Ferneze overthrows him to regain control of Malta.
The Jew of Malta runs until September 8. Visit www.rsc.org for tickets and further details.
