Synopsis
Overtime
Published by Dramatists Play Service
6 Male 3 Female
Antonio, who turns out to be gay, is knocked down by Bassanio, who blames his impulsiveness on his Irish background. Gratiano, who is African-American, and Nerissa, who is Latina, become impatient playing subservient roles and seek out the company of their own people
Lorenzo discovers that his attraction to Jessica is based on a kind of reverse stereotyping, while Jessica decides to liberate herself from her traditional upbringing. Shylock arrives with some surprises of his own
He persuades Portia to try to put the community back together, and after a number of twists and turns, the evening ends with a tentative attempt to celebrate a new kind of Venice on a more open and diverse basis
"Gurney piles up insults atop stereotypes atop genuine cultural observations with the cheerful delicacy of a sociological pastry chef" ~ NY Newsday
"Gurney is one of the most astute observers of the American scene, and Overtime reflects his acute perceptions" ~ NY Daily News