Theather Review: Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ comes alive at Eccles
“Ot … hello?” Who knew Shakespeare could be so entertaining?
Those who attended The Guthrie Theater’s production of “Othello” at the Ellen Eccles Theatre Saturday night would agree.
“I came here a Shakespeare virgin and I am leaving here a blushing bride,” said Bonnie Lindgren, a freshman studying deaf education. “It was extraordinary.”
Compliments aren’t uncommon for Guthrie.
The Guthrie Theater won the 1982 Tony Award for outstanding contribution to American theater and their production of “Othello” was selected as part of the largest tour of Shakespeare works in American history. Through the National Endowment for the Arts Shakespeare in American Communities program, this tour will reach more than 100 communities and every state by the end of 2004. This was their only stop in Utah.
“This is an enormous production, and it is an honor to have the Guthrie perform on our stage,” said Lisette Miles, executive director of Cache Valley Center for the Arts.
Audience members weren’t the only ones receiving praises.
“Every audience, every theater, should be this wonderful,” said Virginia Burke, who played Emilia.
The plot revolves around a treacherous triangle – Othello, a valiant Moorish army general; Desdemona, his wife, and the daughter of a Venetian senator; and the villainous Iago, who concocts a deadly scheme to ruin Othello.
“I think ‘Othello’ is one of the most accomplished of Shakespeare’s tragedies because, while it contains some of the truly greatest poetry in the Shakespeare canon,” said Joe Dowling, Guthrie Theater’s artistic director. “It also has the most wonderfully compelling plot and the characters are so rich.”
The play also deals with race. Which is interesting because it was just as prevalent now, as it was in Shakespeare’s time. Othello, the lead character is African-American while his wife, Desdemona, is white.
However, Dowling doesn’t see the play as being about racism. There are many racial elements to it, he said.
“Racism is a pernicious creed and a destructive force within a society,” Dowling said.
But the core of the play – how Iago fools Othello and destroys not only his happiness but his life – is much more complex than simply a matter of racial prejudice, Dowling said.
“The fascinating part of our exploration has been to go beyond the obvious and to find the complexities of human behavior that motivate the tragic event of the play,” he said.
There was some humor in it, ironically from Bill McClellum, who played Iago.
“It’s because everyone likes me so much,” McClellum said sarcastically. “I’m so funny, charming, happy go lucky. Then things go way out of hand and it makes the audience complient in the crime.”
Also notable was Kris Neilson, who played the womanizing Roderigo. He is a graduate of the University of Utah’s Actors Training Program.
Neilson said it was great to be back in Utah.
“Everyone in the cast has asked me why did you leave, because [they all] think it’s so beautiful,” Neilson said. “It’s just like being home.”
Also beautiful, were the elegant costumes the members of the cast wore, especially the gowns for the women.
The costumes put the final touch on the show.
Yet, the women of the Guthrie were just as excited to take them off, after wearing a corset for hours on end.
“The best moment of the show is the ‘death nightgown,’ when I get to take [the corset] off,” said Cheyenne Casebier, who played Desdemona.
Amber Bailey is a senior majoring in print journalism. Comments can be sent to acbailey@cc.usu.edu