Coryse Borg plays a strong, independent Portia in MADC’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Photos: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Actresses often take umbrage at Shakespeare because the majority of his choice parts go to male actors. However, he does throw a few wonderful women our way and Portia is up there with the best of them. She’s a puzzler though, and a bit like Marmite – people either love or hate her. One thing is certain though, once you’ve met her, you can’t be indifferent about Portia.

On a quest to discover the real Portia, I speak to Coryse Borg, who will be playing her in MADC’s take on the Merchant of Venice in the annual summer San Anton Gardens Shakespeare production.

“So, is Portia a cold, snobbish bitch, or feminist daughter of a manipulative domineering father?” I ask her.

“Poor Portia has such a bad reputation,” says Coryse with a laugh. “When I mention that I’m playing her, most people launch into a rant about how boring and whiny she is. She’s actually fun and witty. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to show it!”

She is a strong, independent woman then.

“She is quite naughty too, but family is very important to her – she feels quite obliged towards her father,” continues Coryse. “She’s definitely not a wilting wallflower who blindly follows other people. And then she falls in love – which as we all know can make you blind at times – and for a brief moment she thinks ‘well, I’ve been in charge for so long, maybe I’ll let my husband take the reins’. This doesn’t last long though – she’s soon back to ruling the roost.”

She is quite naughty too, but family is very important to her

She continues: “Joe Friggieri [the play’s director] and I have had long, deep discussions about Portia and we agree that she’s feisty and fun and definitely calls the shots. She’s quite my type of gal. I love that she takes no nonsense.

“When she catches her husband lying, she doesn’t let him get away with it at all. She does forgive him – but you know that she’s not going to let him forget it any time soon!

“She has a great best friend relationship with Nerissa [Francesca Briffa[; they laugh a lot. The scene where Portia is comparing [unfavourably] her suitors can admittedly be interpreted as whiny – but that’s not how we are playing it. It’s actually very, very funny.

“Think about it – all these people want to marry her and she can’t stand any of them! Her reasons are pretty valid: they’re stupid or drunk. She may be picky but she has reason to be. Also Bassanio [Philip Leone Ganado] is the one who has her heart and she’s not going to put down that torch any time soon, so no one else is going to measure up to him.”

I ask Coryse which of Portia’s character traits she sees in herself.

“Oh, all of them,” she says promptly, and sets upon laughing again.

“I have found it hard to remember all her lines though. She talks a lot – very much like myself. I need to work through scenes in order to memorise the text, and luckily we’ve been rehearsing since May. Shakespeare sure isn’t succinct!”

The actress’s favourite scene so far is Portia’s first scene.

“I’m not sure if that’s my favourite one because it’s the one I’m most confident about, so it’s possible that I’ll change my mind during the run. The court scene is the most famous one and it’s very powerful, but there’s something about my first scene [when Portia is running through her list of suitors dismissively] that is such fun and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.”

The cast also includes Manuel Cauchi as Shylock, Michael Mangion as Antonio and Philip Leone Ganado as Bassanio; together with John Marinelli, Joe Zammit, Steve Hili, Francesca Briffa, Luke Mercieca, Joe Depasquale, Alex Gatesy Lewis, Annelise Abela, Maxine Aquilina, Anton Saliba, David Chircop, Chris Spiteri, Janelle Caruana, Diandra Anne Mamo, Rambert Attard and Stephen Galea – with Joe Friggieri at the helm.

• The Merchant of Venice runs from July 23 to 30. For bookings, call 7979 6232 or visit www.madc.com.mt.