 Olivier had intended to step down from the directorship of the National Theatre at the end of his first five @-@ year contract , having , he hoped , led the company into its new building . By 1968 because of bureaucratic delays construction work had not even begun , and he agreed to serve for a second five @-@ year term . His next major role , and his last appearance in a Shakespeare play , was as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice , his first appearance in the work . He had intended Guinness or Scofield to play Shylock , but stepped in when neither was available . The production by Jonathan Miller , and Olivier 's performance , attracted a wide range of responses . Two different critics reviewed it for The Guardian : one wrote " this is not a role which stretches him , or for which he will be particularly remembered " ; the other commented that the performance " ranks as one of his greatest achievements , involving his whole range " . 
 Olivier <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> intended to step down from the directorship of the National Theatre at the end of his first five @-@ year contract , having , he hoped , led the company into its new building . By 1968 because of bureaucratic delays construction work <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> not even begun , and he agreed to serve for a second five @-@ year term . His next major role , and his last appearance in a Shakespeare play , was as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice , his first appearance in the work . He <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> intended Guinness or Scofield to play Shylock , but stepped in when neither was available . The production by Jonathan Miller , and Olivier <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>performance , attracted a wide range of responses . Two different critics reviewed it for The Guardian : one wrote " this <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>is</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='6'><mark>not</mark></a><a href='None' title='7'><mark>a</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='8'><mark>role</mark></a> which <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>stretches</mark></a> him , or for which he will be particularly remembered " ; the other commented that the performance " <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>ranks</mark></a> as one of his greatest achievements , involving his whole range " . 
Olivier done intended to step down from da directorship of the National Theatre at tdaend of his first five @-@ year contract , havin , he hoped , led the company into its new building . By 1968 because of bureaucratic delays construction work done not even begun , and he agreed to serve fa a second five @-@ year term . His next major role , and his last appearance in a Shakespeare play , was as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice , his first appearance in the wrk . He done intended Guinness or Scofield to play Shylock , but stepped in when neither was available . Thdaroduction by Jonathan Miller , and Olivier  performance , attracted a wide range of responses . 2 different critics reviewed it ffirThe Guardian : one wrote " this ain't no role which stretch him , or for which he will be particularly remembered " ; the other commented dat thedarformance " rank as one of his realest achievements , involving his whole range " .