One year ago today I was up here in Harrison wondering what I was doing holidaying when I should have been at home packing and getting ready to leave for Italy. Now here I am one year later back up in Harrison and feeling sad as I am not preparing to leave for Italy in a week's time... How time flies. Harrison is nice and all, but it ain't Rome. Sigh.
Ciao all.
30 July 2011
24 July 2011
Bard on the Beach...
This is what I saw yesterday - The Merchant of Venice
Young Bassanio, who has lived lavishly and racked up considerable debt, suddenly has the opportunity to woo a wealthy heiress, Portia. His older friend, a merchant named Antonio, wants to give him money to support his suit, however, he has invested all of his funds in ventures overseas, and his ships have not yet come in. To help Bassanio, Antonio borrows money from Shylock, signing a bond to repay the
money within three months. Antonio and Shylock are not friends, and each expresses resentment of the other. However, Shylock agrees to lend the money, with the proviso that if Antonio fail to repay the loan on time, he will owe Shylock a pound of his “fair flesh”.
At her home in Belmont, Portia entertains a variety of suitors. However, she is constrained to marry the suitor who succeeds in a task set by her deceased father: the suitors are presented with three caskets, one each of gold, silver and lead and each with a riddling inscription. The suitor who chooses the right casket
will win Portia’s hand; however, those who choose incorrectly agree never to marry. We watch two of Portia’s suitors make wrong choices before Bassanio arrives and chooses the correct casket. Portia, who had expressed a hope that Bassanio would choose correctly, gives herself and her love to her newly betrothed husband. She also gives Bassanio a ring, with the warning that his parting from it would signal
the ruin of his love. Conveniently, Bassanio’s friend, Gratiano, and Portia’s attendant, Nerissa have also fallen in love and decided to marry. Nerissa has also given Gratiano a ring with a similar warning.
Another friend of Bassanio, Lorenzo, arrives with his new wife, Jessica, who happens to be Shylock’s daughter. Jessica has run away from home, having stolen money and jewels from Shylock, abandoning not only her father but also her Jewish faith to marry the Christian Lorenzo. Lorenzo and Jessica arrive at Belmont along with another friend, Salerio, who brings news from Antonio: his ships have all been lost,
and since he cannot repay Shylock, he will have to forfeit a pound of his flesh, and hence, die. Bassanio,Gratiano and Salerio depart immediately for Venice, with Portia’s blessing and her offer to pay the bond ‘twenty times over’. Portia leaves Jessica and Lorenzo in charge of her house while she and Nerissa leave
to pursue the following plan: dressed as a young lawyer and his clerk, Portia and Nerissa will attend Antonio’s trial as he faces Shylock’s demand.
In the courtroom, Shylock is inflexible. He knows that according to the law, Antonio must forfeit his pound of flesh, and he insists on the law. Dressed as a lawyer named Balthasar, Portia tries to persuade Shylock to be merciful, however, he is resolved. With strict adherence to the law, Balthasar/Portia points
out that although the bond entitles Shylock to a pound of flesh, it says nothing about blood, so he may not shed even one drop. A strict interpretation of the law further reveals that because Shylock, an ‘alien’, has threatened the life of Antonio, ‘a citizen’, he must forfeit half his possessions to the Antonio and the other half to the state. Further, the Duke alone will decide whether or not he dies for this crime. The Duke immediately shows mercy, sparing Shylock’s life and reducing the state’s financial claim to a simple fine.
Antonio agrees to let Shylock keep the other half of his possessions, but on two conditions: 1) that he become a Christian and 2) that he sign a deed of gift that upon his death, leaving all of his possessions to Jessica and Lorenzo. Shylock agrees, but leaves immediately, saying ‘I am not well’. After considerable
persuasion, Portia and Nerissa accept as payment for their services the rings they had given their new husbands.
Portia and Nerissa return to Belmont moments before the men do. Bassanio and Gratiano must explain the absence of the rings their new wives had given them, but Portia and Nerissa reveal that they were, in fact, the lawyer and the clerk. Portia shares the news of Shylock’s deed of gift with Lorenzo and Jessica, and shares further news that Antonio’s ships have come in after all.
Young Bassanio, who has lived lavishly and racked up considerable debt, suddenly has the opportunity to woo a wealthy heiress, Portia. His older friend, a merchant named Antonio, wants to give him money to support his suit, however, he has invested all of his funds in ventures overseas, and his ships have not yet come in. To help Bassanio, Antonio borrows money from Shylock, signing a bond to repay the
money within three months. Antonio and Shylock are not friends, and each expresses resentment of the other. However, Shylock agrees to lend the money, with the proviso that if Antonio fail to repay the loan on time, he will owe Shylock a pound of his “fair flesh”.
At her home in Belmont, Portia entertains a variety of suitors. However, she is constrained to marry the suitor who succeeds in a task set by her deceased father: the suitors are presented with three caskets, one each of gold, silver and lead and each with a riddling inscription. The suitor who chooses the right casket
will win Portia’s hand; however, those who choose incorrectly agree never to marry. We watch two of Portia’s suitors make wrong choices before Bassanio arrives and chooses the correct casket. Portia, who had expressed a hope that Bassanio would choose correctly, gives herself and her love to her newly betrothed husband. She also gives Bassanio a ring, with the warning that his parting from it would signal
the ruin of his love. Conveniently, Bassanio’s friend, Gratiano, and Portia’s attendant, Nerissa have also fallen in love and decided to marry. Nerissa has also given Gratiano a ring with a similar warning.
Another friend of Bassanio, Lorenzo, arrives with his new wife, Jessica, who happens to be Shylock’s daughter. Jessica has run away from home, having stolen money and jewels from Shylock, abandoning not only her father but also her Jewish faith to marry the Christian Lorenzo. Lorenzo and Jessica arrive at Belmont along with another friend, Salerio, who brings news from Antonio: his ships have all been lost,
and since he cannot repay Shylock, he will have to forfeit a pound of his flesh, and hence, die. Bassanio,Gratiano and Salerio depart immediately for Venice, with Portia’s blessing and her offer to pay the bond ‘twenty times over’. Portia leaves Jessica and Lorenzo in charge of her house while she and Nerissa leave
to pursue the following plan: dressed as a young lawyer and his clerk, Portia and Nerissa will attend Antonio’s trial as he faces Shylock’s demand.
In the courtroom, Shylock is inflexible. He knows that according to the law, Antonio must forfeit his pound of flesh, and he insists on the law. Dressed as a lawyer named Balthasar, Portia tries to persuade Shylock to be merciful, however, he is resolved. With strict adherence to the law, Balthasar/Portia points
out that although the bond entitles Shylock to a pound of flesh, it says nothing about blood, so he may not shed even one drop. A strict interpretation of the law further reveals that because Shylock, an ‘alien’, has threatened the life of Antonio, ‘a citizen’, he must forfeit half his possessions to the Antonio and the other half to the state. Further, the Duke alone will decide whether or not he dies for this crime. The Duke immediately shows mercy, sparing Shylock’s life and reducing the state’s financial claim to a simple fine.
Antonio agrees to let Shylock keep the other half of his possessions, but on two conditions: 1) that he become a Christian and 2) that he sign a deed of gift that upon his death, leaving all of his possessions to Jessica and Lorenzo. Shylock agrees, but leaves immediately, saying ‘I am not well’. After considerable
persuasion, Portia and Nerissa accept as payment for their services the rings they had given their new husbands.
Portia and Nerissa return to Belmont moments before the men do. Bassanio and Gratiano must explain the absence of the rings their new wives had given them, but Portia and Nerissa reveal that they were, in fact, the lawyer and the clerk. Portia shares the news of Shylock’s deed of gift with Lorenzo and Jessica, and shares further news that Antonio’s ships have come in after all.
16 July 2011
Two down, one more to go...
My dad is home from Italy. Two weddings down, one more to go - for this year.
Ciao all.
08 July 2011
Weddings...
These two are getting married in October - my sweet baby cousin Marie and her wonderful fiance Craig.
These two are getting married tomorrow in Italy - my handsome cousin Francesco and his lovely bride Serena.
These two got married yesterday in Italy - my sweet cousin Alessandra and her new husband Italo.
I LOVE being the oldest in the family. I LOVE that I have three cousins on my mother's side who I have been with since the moment they were born, and nine cousins on my father's side whom I love more than they will ever know! I LOVE being able to watch each one begin new chapters in their lives. My daddy is in Italy celebrating (on behalf of all of us) with Alessandra and Francesco. I am grateful he was able to do that. Come October we will all celebrate Marie's wedding - and we are REALLY excited for that. Bella is a flower girl and Ethan is an usher. Weddings weddings!! And there is one more on the horizon for next year... But I will save that pic for another post. :)
Ciao all
These two are getting married tomorrow in Italy - my handsome cousin Francesco and his lovely bride Serena.
These two got married yesterday in Italy - my sweet cousin Alessandra and her new husband Italo.
I LOVE being the oldest in the family. I LOVE that I have three cousins on my mother's side who I have been with since the moment they were born, and nine cousins on my father's side whom I love more than they will ever know! I LOVE being able to watch each one begin new chapters in their lives. My daddy is in Italy celebrating (on behalf of all of us) with Alessandra and Francesco. I am grateful he was able to do that. Come October we will all celebrate Marie's wedding - and we are REALLY excited for that. Bella is a flower girl and Ethan is an usher. Weddings weddings!! And there is one more on the horizon for next year... But I will save that pic for another post. :)
Ciao all
07 July 2011
After 40 years...
I am still NOT good with going with the flow. I don't like it when my plans get delayed. And I don't like the unknown. And I can't seem to let it be... Wow. Some lessons in life really are hard to learn...
03 July 2011
Snack time...
I am in love with the site Pinterest. Found this recipe on it. Gonna go and make it for now for snack later on.
Ciao all.
02 July 2011
Success...
Watch out - my kids are gonna rule the world some day. Seriously. Ethan was granted "gifted" status this year and operates 3-5 years ahead. Bella is quick as a whip and picks up everything thrown at her. These two amaze me. And they both had a phenomenal school year. I am grateful to their teachers who understood my kids and let them blossom. Here's to a restful summer well deserved.
Ciao all.
Ciao all.
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