Past Event
Sunday, October 1, 2023, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Shylock versus Portia: A Shakespeare Mock Trial
2123 Fenton Parkway, San Diego, 92108
Cost: Free
After the events depicted in The Merchant of Venice, Shylock discovers that Doctor of Laws “Balthazar” was really Portia in disguise, so neither a man nor a lawyer. In a civil lawsuit, he sues her for tortious interference with contract. The Duke of Venice, regretting the outcome of the earlier case as it damaged the city’s reputation for fairness (and thus its commercial prospects), allows Shylock’s lawsuit against Portia to proceed.
The members of the audience will serve as the jury and deliver a verdict by voice vote. A talk-back session will also take place after the conclusion of the trial.