Directing the MOV would give a lot of oppurtunities to control "what is X?", especially with the character Shylock. As a Jewish character and also a sort of scapegoat and there are many different ways to portray him. I personally think that he could be portrayed as a victim; a persucuted against religious minority who (later) loses his daughter and money to the Christian Lorenzo. So "what does X mean?" also takes on several different meanings here; is Shylock a greedy character, or a wounded one?

My interpretaion is that it would be better to surprise the viewer with a slightly different intrepretation.

Also, I think Antonio is kind of boring and lackluster; a faithful friend to Bassiano but still lacking much emotion. Bassiano is a risk taker who uses Portia for money (or is intending to, anyway).

As a director of MOV, I would do my best to challenge assumptions about the play; I would shopw the characters manipultive sides and how Shylock is caugh in between.