Believe it or not, I’m not going to rail against the run-time of Vile Passeist’s The Jew of Malta, because the time, even at two hours and 45 minutes, simply flies by. This tale of a sorely wronged Jewish businessman named Barabas who exacts extreme revenge on his enemies really crackles with energy and humour. Barabas, as played by actor Jesses Robb, is a sly and joyous villain. His hysterical asides and the sheer delight he takes in his murderous plots make him a pleasure to watch. He is joined in his plotting by an equally bloodthirsty (but less intelligent) Turkish slave played by Eric Fitzpatrick. Together they wipe out a large percentage of the large cast. And although this play is often labeled anti-Semitic, director Dan Bray’s makes an interesting and intelligent rebuttal of this perception in the program. –Kate Watson