Cast members explore complex characters in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

This interview originally aired on “In the Moment” on SDPB Radio.

This weekend, the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival brings audiences the drama, comedy and romance of “The Merchant of Venice.” The play starts with this familiar premise: A boy wants to get a girl.

But first, he needs to pass her deceased father’s test to gain her hand in marriage.

Mike Lee is playing the boy, Bassanio, and Abby Anderson is playing the girl, Portia, in this week’s performances in Vermillion.

They join “In the Moment” to dive into the complexities and nuances of the flawed characters they play.

Learn more about the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival’s performances.