In his Introduction, director Mark Lamos examines the central themes in "The Merchant of Venice", pointing out the links between the play and Shrovetide, a religious holiday very important in Renaissance England. He discusses Shakespeare's humanistic and ironic approach to all of the characters; as a result, he says, "we view them not with a jaundiced eye but with astonishment." The "immutable behavior" of Shylock and "the breach between Christian precept and practice" remind us of our fallibility; clearly, "The Merchant of Venice" remains add significant and disturbing today as it was in Shakespeare's time.