Preview of Anticipated "Othello" Production
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Entertainment
By Semein Washington
Rotunda Reporter
Arriving soon on the new Commuication Studies and Theatre stage will be Othello, Moor of Venice, who leads among William Shakespeare's work. It is one of the great plays for any troupe of actors. Where Hamlet has the trials of a young prince and King Lear the troubles of an old ruler, Othello is the tragedy of an established man. Moreover, it is the tragedy of a foreigner in a country where he has risen to exceptional rank.
It is the story of a North African immigrant made a general in Venice. He marries the daughter of a senator and leads war against the Turkish enemies of his state. However, to one man, Othello has made a mistake. He has neglected to promote his ensign Iago, and has instead given the rank to Michael Cassio. Embittered, Iago begins his plot to destroy Othello and use him as the tool to do so. He creates a fictional affair between Othello's wife Desdemona and his lieutenant Cassio. He further manipulates an admirer of Desdemona, Roderigo, until he is no longer useful. With lies spun here and there, and then with a handkerchief he pushes Othello to murder and eventual suicide.
The Longwood actors have produced a wonderful and exact performance. Brandon Carter as Othello is elegant, magnanimous, a noble lover and man of initial reason. However, when Othello's jealousy becomes uncontrollable, he is likewise ferocious. Growling for blood, he takes on the immediate character of a lion. Both enraptured and enrapturing in her passion is Jenna Hallett as the fair Desdemona. With grace, Hallett takes on the role of Othello's counterpart and expresses pure broken heartedness as she is needlessly attacked. Her death comes suddenly in the guise of an embrace.
Likewise, there are the shining performances of Brandon Lietzan and Jessi Johnson as Iago and wife Emelia. Emelia comforts Desdemona and is a woman of experience and bearing. When deception comes out, she expresses pure outrage. Iago is, at the same time, ruining Othello. Lietzan becomes a genial and ruthless predator. He kills only in the most clandestine manner and lies under a perfect mask of honesty. The acute observer will find a great deal of symmetry between these two accomplished thespians.
Rotunda Reporter
Arriving soon on the new Commuication Studies and Theatre stage will be Othello, Moor of Venice, who leads among William Shakespeare's work. It is one of the great plays for any troupe of actors. Where Hamlet has the trials of a young prince and King Lear the troubles of an old ruler, Othello is the tragedy of an established man. Moreover, it is the tragedy of a foreigner in a country where he has risen to exceptional rank.
It is the story of a North African immigrant made a general in Venice. He marries the daughter of a senator and leads war against the Turkish enemies of his state. However, to one man, Othello has made a mistake. He has neglected to promote his ensign Iago, and has instead given the rank to Michael Cassio. Embittered, Iago begins his plot to destroy Othello and use him as the tool to do so. He creates a fictional affair between Othello's wife Desdemona and his lieutenant Cassio. He further manipulates an admirer of Desdemona, Roderigo, until he is no longer useful. With lies spun here and there, and then with a handkerchief he pushes Othello to murder and eventual suicide.
The Longwood actors have produced a wonderful and exact performance. Brandon Carter as Othello is elegant, magnanimous, a noble lover and man of initial reason. However, when Othello's jealousy becomes uncontrollable, he is likewise ferocious. Growling for blood, he takes on the immediate character of a lion. Both enraptured and enrapturing in her passion is Jenna Hallett as the fair Desdemona. With grace, Hallett takes on the role of Othello's counterpart and expresses pure broken heartedness as she is needlessly attacked. Her death comes suddenly in the guise of an embrace.
Likewise, there are the shining performances of Brandon Lietzan and Jessi Johnson as Iago and wife Emelia. Emelia comforts Desdemona and is a woman of experience and bearing. When deception comes out, she expresses pure outrage. Iago is, at the same time, ruining Othello. Lietzan becomes a genial and ruthless predator. He kills only in the most clandestine manner and lies under a perfect mask of honesty. The acute observer will find a great deal of symmetry between these two accomplished thespians.
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