STAGE

Who says the classics aren’t popular? Telephone sales began Sunday for Sir Peter Hall’s Broadway production of “The Merchant of Venice,” opening Dec. 19, and the day’s take was $295,380. Monday’s (to 5 p.m.) was more than $119,000. That’s almost half a million dollars in two days for a 400-year-old play. It could have something to do with the actor playing Shylock--Dustin Hoffman.