Veteran theater director Chen Xinyi is joining hands with Mahua Fun Age to work on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s satirical comedy “The Merchant of Venice.” The new play is scheduled to open to audiences at Shanghai Grand Theater in April. It’s the third time Chen has approached “The Merchant of Venice,” which she adapted into a Cantonese opera years ago. “I have watched several plays and movies adapted from this comedy, but none of them managed to showcase the ‘giant’s spirit’ of Shakespeare’s characters,” said the 82-year-old director and scriptwriter, who has directed more than 100 plays throughout her career. “I love Shakespeare because he represents the Renaissance. His characters are spiritual giants, and his works showcase a reverence toward humanity,” she added. “In other adaptations of ‘The Merchant of Venice,’ I only saw sympathy for the Jews. In my version, I will highlight justice and virtue.” (SD-Agencies) | 