TORONTO — A production of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” changed two scenes after a Muslim-Canadian lobby group protested the comic depiction of Muslim prayer, the group said.
The changes were made this week to appease the Canadian division of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which protested against the production’s portrayal of the Prince of Morocco, a minor character, as offensive to Muslims, a council statement said Thursday.
The character fell on his face while prostrating himself — or touching his head to the ground in prayer — before God, and also prostrated himself before a woman in the production, the council said. Muslims are prohibited from prostrating themselves before anyone but God, it said.
After learning of the complaint, the Stratford Festival production changed the scenes so that the prince no longer prostrated himself, according to the council.
The play is one of Shakespeare’s most controversial because of its anti-Semitic portrayal of Shylock, a central character.
“I understand the prostration scenes were offensive to you and I assure you no disrespect was intended,” Anita Gaffney, director of festival marketing and sales, wrote the council this week. “Having reviewed your comments and the scenes, The Stratford Festival has determined that the gestures could be removed without impacting the comic intent of the scene.”
Gaffney also said the festival would distribute educational material provided by the council to school audiences and make brochures available during performances of the play.
