Reader Reviews
Othello (Trafalgar Studios (previously the Whitehall), West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | A very satisfying evening. Sure, greater, more experienced actors might have given a more profound performance, but Mr Henry has clearly worked very hard and put his heart and soul into the project. His problem, from my standpoint, is that he has a permanent twinkle in his eye and his features have been so arranged by nature that when you look at his face you expect a great guffaw to break out at any moment - possibly even when his character is plumbing the depths of despair. I hadn't taken in the fact that this is a Northern theatrical company, but it rapidly became apparent, everyone speaking with an accent that made them sound like refugees from Coronation Street. "Luv" instead of love, "enuff" rather than enough, and so on. I half expected an "Eh up, chuck," from Desdemona. Nevertheless, an intriguing and entertaining evening. It perhaps seems odd to single out an element that had nothing at all to do with Shakespeare, but, as others have mentioned, the musical drinking scene was superb. - Escalus56 | 29 Nov 09 |
| I really enjoyed this production.Admittedly there were flaws, but Lenny's Othello was an unexpected triumph and Iago was the most evil portrayal of the character. The play was well staged and directed with correct sparseness. Thank you,Barrie Rutter. - Juliet R | 26 Sep 09 |
| I agree with Maxwell. There is little passion in this Othello, robbing the play of its essence and the conclusion comes over like an Agatha Christie murder-mystery. Lenny Henry deserves an A+ for effort and, let's face it, would Othello be put on in the West End without such a popular star? I liked Conrad Nelson's unusual take on Iago - the gleeful cackle in the climatic scene demonstrates a terrifying insanity underneath the rough bonhomie. Moreover, the drinking scene is wonderfully original. However, the designs are too dark, there is not enough emotion and it is very hard to watch. On the plus side, Mr Henry shakes hands with members of the audience and takes a couple of curtain-calls rather than dashing off into the night. This will definitely be a sell-out which can only be good news for the West End theatre in the midst of the credit crunch. - DJ | 21 Sep 09 |
