**** Recommended **** When I think of the Court Theatre, I know I’ll see a well-staged, true-to-the-book production so I was surprised to learn I had ‘stage’ seating for The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice. Needless to say I wasn’t expecting an avant-garde immersive experience but there it was, right in the middle of everything. Although Othello is my least favorite of Shakespeare’s plays, what with Iago being a bottom-feeding sociopath, compelling performances from a stellar cast drew me right in. Unfortunately, in abbreviating Othello to one act, certain key speeches explaining nefarious behaviors were omitted. 3 ½ Spotlights
Scenic Designer John Culbert removed the stage, draped canvas tarps over the regular tiers of seats, and built scaffolding on three sides of the room, creating a stark, dystopian atmosphere. Most audience members are seated onstage in different shaped color-designated areas with aisles intersecting. Their chairs swiveled in place, so everyone could follow the actors as they moved through and around the audience as well as on both levels of the scaffolding.
I think co-directors Charles Newell and Gabrielle Randle-Bent wanted to portray him as an ordinary man, but he’s just not. Iago is the only villain Shakespeare wrote that never seems to struggle with good and evil. He wants what he wants when he wants it, and woe to the person who denies him. He wanted the promotion, Othello gave it to Cassio so he set out to destroy Othello. Even at the end, when everything comes out, he’s unrepentant.
Having reached the level of general, Othello (Kelvin Roston, Jr.) became complacent, arrogantly assuming that his men were loyal, honest and honorable – and just as happy about his marriage as he was. Iago (Timothy Edward Kane) was cold and manipulative, planning his moves and playing with his victims like pieces on a chess board. When Iago hinted, Othello believed every innuendo.
To Iago, Desdemona (Amanda Drinkall) wasn’t a person, she was a tool in his vengeance plot. The very act of marrying Othello condemned her. When she chose Emilia (Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel), Iago’s wife, as her attendant, she inadvertently gave him another tool. Emilia, on the other hand, served Desdemona while trying to please her husband. When she gave him Desdemona’s special handkerchief, she had no idea what he was up to.
Roderigo (Erik Hellman), who’d courted Desdemona, was distraught when she married Othello. When Iago offered to plead Roderigo’s case, he suggested sending expensive gifts – which, of course, Iago would deliver. Roderigo practically beggared himself AND ended up stabbing someone at Iago’s instigation.
Cassio (Sheldon D. Brown) had the bad luck to be promoted into the job Iago thought he should have, so Iago laced some wine with hard liquor, got Cassio drunk, provoking him into a fight with Roderigo. After Othello threw Cassio out of the army, Iago suggested that he ask Desdemona to argue his case. Meanwhile, Iago planted the handkerchief in Cassio’s room.
In what was one of the defining scenes in this production, several actors line up and sit down in a row under the scaffolding. Everyone, from Desdemona and Othello at one end to Iago and Emilia at the other, without saying a word, all worried, brooded or sulked.
Although I haven’t mentioned them in this recap, I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the rest of the cast, which includes Sean Fortunato as Brabantio/Montana, Darren Paten as Bianco and Karissa Murrell Myers as Duke.
A digital version will be available to stream for patrons who do not yet wish to attend in person.
Note: Guests must show proof of vaccination before entering the theater. Guests are required to wear masks while inside the building.
The Tragedy of Othello runs through December 5th at the Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis. Chicago. Parking is free, take a ticket upon entry, gate will open ½ hour after curtain. Running time is approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes, no intermission.
Performances are Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. Tickets range from $56-$76. Digital tickets range from $35-$50. FYI (773) 753-4472 or www.courttheatre.org.