Seattle Mariners: The Hidden Shakespeare Trick

Synopsis

A television commercial for the Seattle Mariners in their ‘Ain’t Baseball Great’ campaign. A Red Sox runner leads off second base. Mariner shortstop Alex Rodriguez sidles over and pulls a volume of Shakespeare from his pocket. "Hey, have you ever read The Merchant of Venice?". He begins to read "The quality of mercy is not strained/It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven/Upon that place beneath". As the runner looks dreamily to heaven and murmurs "That’s pretty", the pitcher (Jamie Moyer) wheels around and fires a pick-off throw to Rodriquez who applies the tag. Cut to the Mariners dugout, where the coach, John McLaren, nods in approval. "The hidden Shakespeare trick" he says, to which another coach responds "Works every time".

Language

English

Country

United States

Medium

Video

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Year of release

1999

Credits

Producer

Lonnie Weiss

Cast

Alex Rodriguez

Additional Details

Production type

Advertising/Trailers/Promos

Plays

Merchant of Venice, The

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); sport; Baseball

Notes

Notes

The commercial may be viewed at: http://vimeo.com/9335949 (accessed 11/2010).

Production Company

Name

Copacino

Sponsor

Name

Seattle Mariners