Synopsis
Programme
In the city of Venice, the soldier Iago rages that Othello, the Moorish General of the Venetian armies, has overlooked him and chosen his rival, Cassio, to be his lieutenant. In league with the young fop, Roderigo, he reveals to Barbantio, a wealthy citizen of Venice, that his daughter, Desdemona, has secretly married Othello against his wishes. Barbantio goes to confront Othello who admits that he and Desdemona are married. Just then a messenger arrives and both Othello and Barbantio are summoned to meet with the Duke of Venice on urgent matters.
Before the matters of state can be discussed Barbantio accuses Othello of using spells and potions to seduce Desdemona. The Duke sends for Desdemona to settle the matter and she professes her love for Othello, forcing her father to reluctantly sanction the marriage. The Duke then reveals that a Turkish fleet is headed for Cyprus and asks Othello to go defend the island. Othello asks that Desdemona be taken care of in his absence but she insists on going with him and Othello commends her to the care of Iago and his wife, Emelia, to follow him to Cyprus. The villainous Iago then takes advantage of Roderigo, who is in love with Desdemona, by convincing him that Desdemona will soon tire of Othello and advising him to make money to woo her by selling his lands and fighting in wars. Iago will, of course, be Roderigo's go-between.
In Cyprus, the governor Montano learns that a tempest at sea has destroyed the Turkish fleet, so that when Othello and his entourage arrive they discover that the threat to the island is effectively ended. Iago continues his plotting by telling Roderigo he believes Desdemona is in love with Cassio, and convinces Roderigo to pick a fight with Cassio in order to get him into trouble with the local authorities. Privately, Iago reveals his plan to complete Cassio's ruin by making Othello suspect him of having an affair with Desdemona. That evening Iago dupes Cassio into a drinking game and succeeds in getting him drunk. Roderigo then provokes Cassio who attacks first Roderigo, then Montano when the latter tries to intervene. Othello arrives, drawn by the commotion, and breaks up the fight. Iago then places the blame on Cassio, having earlier in the day led Othello to beleive that Cassio has a drinking problem. Othello then dismisses Cassio as his lieutenant. After Othello has left, Iago suggests to Cassio that he should entreat Desdemona to intercede with Othello on his behalf - intending to use their meetings to convince Othello that they are lovers.
Cassio meets with Desdemona to seek her help and she promises to do her best to restore him in Othello's high regard. Iago and Othello arrive just as they are parting and Iago takes the opportunity to drop hints about Cassio's loyalty. Othello bemands he explain himself and Iago 'reluctantly' explains his 'suspicions' about Cassio and Desdemona. Othello commends Iago for his honesty and treats Desdemona rudely when she reappears, blaming it on a 'headache'. Desdemona tries to soothe his head with her embroidered handkerchief, a special gift given to her by Othello, but drops it to the ground when he pushes her away. They leave and Emilia arrives. Finding the fallen handkerchief she picks it up, remembering that Iago had entreated her to steal it for him.
Emilia gives the handkerchief to Iago who plans to plant it in Cassio's apartments to fuel Othello's suspicions. Othello returns, and demands that Iago provide proof for the torturous thoughts he has placed in Othello's head. Iago then claims that whilst rooming with Cassio he has heard him talking of his love for Desdemona in his sleep, and also that he has seen Cassio wiping his beard with Desdemona's handkerchief. Othello's jealously overwhelms him and he names Iago his new lieutenant with orders to kill Cassio within the next three days. Meanwhile, in her room Desdemona is searching for her lost handkerchief. Othello appears and claims to have a cold. When she offers him a different handkerchief he demands to see the one he gave her, becoming enraged when she doesn't produce it. He leaves and Cassio appears to learn if Desdemona has succeeded in changing Othello's opinion of him. She replies that she has tried but that Othello has become unreasonable and he must wait a little longer.
Outside, Cassio meets his mistress, Bianca. She becomes jealous when he takes out Desdemona's handkerchief demanding to know where he got it but he replies he found it in his apartment and sends her away to have it copied for him since he likes the pattern and fears the owner will reclaim it. Elsewhere, Iago continues his poisoning of Othello's mind by telling him that Cassio has admitted to sleeping with Desdemona. He promises Othello that he shall hear it for himself and bids Othello to hide while he fetches Cassio. Engaging Cassio in conversation about Bianco, Iago draws him within earshot of where Othello is hiding, who then thinks Cassio is talking about Desdemona. Then Bianca reappears and throws the handkerchief at Cassio, accusing him of getting it from another woman. Othello recognises it and is convinced it is proof of Desdemona's unfaithfulness. He swears that for her unfaithfullness Desdemona must die too before she can harm other men.
Iago then comes to Othello who orders him to have them both killed, but Iago convinces Othello to strangle Desdemona in bed that night - the scene of her crimes. The nobleman Lodovico then arrives with a letter ordering Othello to return to Venice and leave Cassio in command in Cyprus. Othello is enraged and when Desdemona tries to calm him he strikes her. Lodovico is shocked that this is not the Othello he new but Iago tells him that Othello has changed.
Othello then questions Emilia about Desdemona's honesty. Emilia swears that Desdemona is honest, but in his jealousy Othello summons Desdemona and accuses her of being disloyal and a whore. When he leaves, a distraught Desdemona turns to Iago and Emilia to comfort her. Emilia tells Iago she belies an evil villain is poisoning Othello's mind but he replies that that is impossible. Later, Roderigo meets with Iago complaining that he has followed Iago's advice and squandered all his wealth in jewels which he has given Iago to give to Desdemona but has seen no positive results from her. Iago, who has kept the jewels for himself, calms him down and explains that their plans are almost complete but that Othello and Desdemona are returning to Venice leaving Cassio in charge in Cyprus. He convinces Roderigo that Cassio must die so that Othello would have to stay in Cyprus and Roderigo would be able to have Desdemona. Iago tells Roderigo to wait outside Bianca's house after midnight, then kill Cassio when he leaves, promising that he will be there to help, if necessary. At supper, Othello orders Desdemona to dismiss Emilia and wait alone in her bedroom for him whilst he goes on a walk with lodovico.
Outside Bianca's house, Roderigo ambushes Cassio but the soldier is two quick and seriously wounds him. Iago then attacks Cassio from behind and slashes Cassio's leg then disappears into the darkness before Cassio can recognise him. Othello overhears the commotion and, thinking Cassio is dead, returns to Desdemona. Iago then reappears pretending to have been drawn by the noise. Lodovico and others also arrive. Then discover Cassio, wounded, that Iago alone finds the wounded Roderigo and kills him before summoning the others. Bianca appears and Iago accuses her of being in Roderigo's accomplice in attempting to murder Cassio. He orders her to be taken into custody.
Othello then arrives back at Desdemona's chamber, and warns her to confess her sins before he kills her. Desdemona pleads her innocence but Othello smothers her with a pillow. Emilia returns with news of the events in the streets, telling Othello that Roderigo is dead, but Cassio is alive. She then hears a plaintive cry from Desdemona who is not quite dead and tries to help her but she dies after telling Emilia it was not Othello's doing. Othello declares that even her last breath was a lie and that he did kill her out of honour because she had slept with Cassio. Emilia run from the room screaming 'murder' and returns with Montano, Iago and others appear and demand to know what Othello has done. He claims his action was just since Desdemona was sleeping with Cassio, the proof being the handkerchief that was in Cassio's possession. Horrified, Emilia realises that she has been Iago's pawn and admits giving him the handkerchief, accusing him of masterminding all that has occured. Othello, in a rage, lunges at Iago, but he eludes him and stabs Emilia before fleeing. Emilia lies down next to her mistress and dies as Iago is quickly captured and brought back. In remorse, Othello then pulls a hidden dagger and kills himself. Lodovico then charges Cassio to torture and kill Iago for his crimes.
Show Short Synopsis (Teaser)Impressions/Performances
Othello is, for me, one of the most accessible of Shakespeare's tragedies, with interesting and believable characters and a clear and uncluttered storyline that is as relevant today as it was when the play was written. The story is largely centered upon two main characters, Othello, the Moorish general of the title, and Iago, his scheming subordinate who cunningly manipulates him. It is a story which encompasses themes of racism, fidelity, jealousy, trust and betrayal.
Stand-up comedian Lenny Henry, making his Shakespearean debut at the age of fifty, broke new career ground in taking on the title role of the tortured moor. Over six foot tall and stockily built, with head shaved and combination beard and moustache grown especially for the part, Lenny was physically a perfect fit for the imposing character. But there was nothing in his career portfolio to suggest he could actually play the part. So was this just a piece of cynical casting to use his name (and the seeming incongruity of the connection) to get bums on seats? With the entire run at the Playhouse being a sell-out it certainly had that effect, but Henry's hugely impressive performance was more than enough to bely any suggestion that his casting had been anything other than simply picking the best man for the job. Dwarfing the rest of the cast with his physical presence and delivering his lines with near perfect cadence and timing, his stentorian baritone easily carrying to the back of the auditorium, he tackled the role with great feeling and sympathy. Whether the tender and loving husband, the tough and efficient general, or the angry and injured cuckold, his stirring performance allied to his inate charm and dynamic personality held the audience entirely in his thrall. Surely one of the most impressive Shakespearean debuts ever.
As his arch-nemesis, Iago, the more seasoned Shakespeare veteran Conrad Nelson, who seems to be especially good at playing Shakespeare's villains (I remember a shudderingly pointed performance from him as Richard III at the same theatre three years earlier), was yet again faultless. His Iago was understated, never oily or unctuous, but single-mindedly unscrupulous in the way he manipulated those around him. Dripping malevolence, the calm efficiency with which he went about his machinations only made the character the more chilling and the more believable.
Jessica Harris as a sweet and girlish Desdemona looked all the more frail and tiny against Henry's bulky frame and thereby all the more vulnerable as the innocent young wife struggling to cope with events she did not understand as her husband turned against her.
All in all, director Barrie Rutter, who plays the small role of Desdemona's father, has not only got his casting just right but succeeds in getting the very best out of all involved. The action is played out on a set consisting of a flat black stage, delicately lit, with a rear panel of large wooden doors with open balcony above and a right panel of three sets of giant louvre doors. Music figures from time to time in the performance, played by the actors themselves on a variety of instruments. The costumes are of a Victorian style, with the soldiers wearing crimson jackets with a dragon figure heavily embroidered in gold on the right sleeve.
Verdict
A colourful and cohesive telling of Shakespeare's classic story of love and betrayal. Marked by masterful performances from all concerned and a superb Shakespearian debut from veteran comedian Lenny Henry.