Benefit set Saturday for Princeton Rep Shakespeare Festival

   Princeton Rep Shakespeare Festival will be presenting a benefit reading of "The Merchant of Venice," directed by Princeton Rep Artistic Director Victoria Liberatori, on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Bank of America at 301 Carnegie Center, West Windsor. The evening will also offer a buffet dinner and desserts donated by Wild Oats Natural Marketplace amd wine and coffee donated by Small World Coffee.
   "The play you love to hate is more controversial than you thought. A story so current that it feels like it was ripped from the pages of today’s headlines, Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a shattering exposé of society’s systemic anti-Semitism, racism, sexism and homophobia," Ms. Liberatori said.
   Featuring members of the Rep’s acting company — Richard Bourg as Antonio, Moshe Silver as Shylock, Eric Alperin as Lorenzo, Sheryl Wells as Nerissa, Victor Dickerson as Prince of Morocco, Alfredo Narciso as Gratiano and Tom Biglin as Bassanio — the reading reunites actors from such past Princeton Rep Shakespeare Festival productions as "King Lear," "The Comedy of Errors," "Romeo and Juliet," and "As You Like It."
   A discussion led by Bruce Afran, professor of constitutional law at Rutgers University, and Moshe Silver, a rabbinical student, will follow the reading.
   Members of the benefit committee include David Newton of Palmer Square Management, Carrie Pallat of Princeton, Henry Echeverria of Princeton, Bruce Afran, Alan Goddard, Christina Klam of Kingston, Elizabeth Godycki of CG Gallery in Princeton, and Jessica Durrie, proprietor of Small World Coffee in Princeton.
   Admission is $75 per adult with a special discount price of $25 for students with ID and for teachers and senior citizens. For more information, call (609) 921-3682. Checks will be accepted the night of the benefit.