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BrumHour saw Othello at the invite of The RSC.
By David Fox x.com/DavidFoxTheatre
Review: Othello at The RSC Royal Shakespeare Theatre
⭐⭐⭐⭐”Masterfully acted, directed, and staged, and beautiful to look at”
Directed by Tim Carroll
Othello – Shakespeare’s tragic story of a noble Moorish general in the Venetian army, whose life unravels due to the deceit of his envious captain, Iago. Iago manipulates Othello into believing his loyal wife, Desdemona, is unfaithful. Consumed by jealousy and doubt, Othello’s trust in Desdemona crumbles, leading him to murder her in a fit of rage. When the truth is revealed, it is too late! Themes of jealousy, betrayal, and the destructive power of manipulation play out.
Othello has long been one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, and there have been many excellent productions from The RSC over the years, so I was particularly looking forward to seeing this new production! John Douglas Thompson (Till, Theatre for A New Audience’s The Merchant of Venice) takes the title role opposite Will Keen (Operation Mincemeat, Wolf Hall) as Iago and Juliet Rylance (McMafia, Perry Mason) as Desdemona.
This was a really excellent production – the acting is absolutely fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the central performances of John Douglas Thompson as Othello who showcased his rage and despair effectively. Juliet Rylance was also excellent as Desdemona – vulnerable and frantic at being wrongly accused.
The set is very minimalistic, with scenes denoted by a lit square, and illuminated chains. At times the stage is bathed in a beautiful golden light evoking the heat and passion of Cyprus and it’s sun. The lack of set meant you could focus on and enjoy the performances and Shakespeare’s brilliant words. Choral singing and chanting were also used to great effect to create a dramatic atmosphere.
At times the play provoked very strong emotions, and there were gasps from the audience on more than one occasion. The most effective scene was Othello’s murder of Desdemona with the whole auditorium plunged into total darkness. We could only hear the cries and the sounds of the violence committed making our imagination think the unthinkable.
The highlight of this production were the sumptuous Jacobean costumes – beautiful to look at and exquisitely detailed. They make this version of Othello stand out from others.
Othello is a wonderful piece of theatre – masterfully acted, directed, and staged, and beautiful to look at. Allow yourself to be transported back to Jacobean times and swept away with emotion! Othello is at The RSC’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon until 23rd November 2024. Book tickets here: rsc.org.uk/othello/
