Othello

Synopsis

Othello, a Moor, falls in love with Desdemona but is broken by jealousy falsely encouraged. Shakespeare's most human play sets delicacy and power, trust and jealousy, love and hate, good and evil in stark and tragic opposition. Powerless in the face of their own self destructive instincts, the characters are caught on a downward spiral towards inevitable tragedy.

Our Review:

4 June 2004

The Royal Shakespeare Company arrives back in London with Gregory Doran’s production of Othello, originally performed at Stratford’s Swan Theatre, inaugurates Trafalgar Studios, newly created from the former Whitehall Theatre.

Here, Stephen Brimson Lewis has transformed the stage into a secure compound as the Venetian troops occupy the island. The indigenous population hover outside and the sound of a muezzin is heard in the distance. The wire fence serves to remind us of how soldiers remain cut off from the rest of the world, living a life where brutality and violence plays a major part.

Ever since Ian McKellen’s acclaimed performance in the 1980s, we’ve been accustomed to Iago as embittered NCO. What Antony Sher has added several layers of hate. In addition to hatred of Othello, of course, this Iago doesn’t hold back on racist loathing. He mocks Othello’s African accent and uses simian movements to impersonate him.

And it’s not just ...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.252.192.10) - 11 June 2004:

Excellent production - wonderful cast that restore the "edge of your seat" aspect to this play. Anthony Sher in particular brings a thoughtful intelligence to the role (adding a sexual component to the racist and jealosy) in the way that few can match. A "must see" production....

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