L.A. Review: 'Speed Merchant (of Venice)'

Shakespeare's controversial dark comedy about loyalty and usury gets a pop-cultural makeover by Action! Theatre Company for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. By slashing the text and skewing his able ensemble to film and television references, director Tiger Reel streamlines the Bard for maximum accessibility.

Jack Young is gripping as moneylender Shylock, with a "Hath not a Jew eyes" speech that wouldn't shame Alan Arkin. Vanessa Vaughn as a deceptively chirpy Portia and Samantha Klein as an irreverent Nerissa are delightful, particularly in the scenes where Portia's suitors vie for her hand, here done as a game show, complete with canned applause and sound effects.

It isn't a revision, just a quirkily straightforward compression, and some aspects are purely decorative. Yet by the climactic trial of title debtor Antonio (Jon Weinberg), backed by "Men in Black"–clad Bassanio (David Hardie) and Gratiano (Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper), this dynamic reading has captured "Merchant" 's core more winningly than many a fully scripted account.

Presented by Action! Theatre Company as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival at Artworks Theatre, 6567–6585 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. June 16–24. Remaining performances: Fri., June 22, 8 p.m.; Sat., June 23, 2 p.m.; Sun. June 24, 2 p.m. (323) 455-4585 or www.hollywoodfringe.org.