Must see
Le Boy and I went to see Othello at the Shakespeare Theatre last night. Despite the fact that I was starting to feel under the weather, and the play was over 3 hours long, I was completely taken by it. If you like Shakespeare - heck, if you like any kind of good theater - try to catch this production while it lasts (not very much longer).
Though everyone was all ga-ga over Avery Brooks playing Othello (and don't get me wrong, he was very, very good), I thought the real star of the show was Patrick Page as Iago. He took a really interesting take on the character, playing him less as just a mean and nasty dude and more as a completely remorseless soul who was downright *playful* in his evilness. He actually had you laughing along with him at times, as if his little "jokes" and "games" weren't about people's lives and sanity, but rather just harmless little pranks. It was a masterful interpretation. If you happened to catch his Macbeth last season, this is even better.
And if you happened to catch last season's Pericles and were as annoyed by Colleen Delany's manner of speaking as I was (she has this really annoying, put-on lilt to her voice and doesn't project nearly enough), get ready for some more annoyance - she's Desdemona. Note to the Shakespeare Theatre: stop casting this woman in lead roles. She's really one dimensional and not that good. In contrast, the woman who played Emilia (whose name escapes me at the moment), was excellent. Her scene at the end where she rats out Iago was breathtaking.
Also turning in an excellent performance was the dude who played Cassio. Another repeat Shakespeare Theatre performer (ah, the teensy tiny DC acting community!), he played Cecil in last season's Lady Windermere's Fan, showing an impressive breadth of acting ability (unlike, say, Colleen Delany). He was unbelievably convincing in the "drunken scene," where he falls out of grace with Othello...a scene into which a delightful dance number was woven! Great fun. I sat there grinning throughout the entire scene.
As per usual, the set, costumes and music were very, very good. I'm constantly amazed at what the company manages to do with simple sets in such a relatively small-ish space. It'll be almost sad when they move into their new theater...less intimacy, less challenge...though I'm sure the set folks will be thrilled!
Though everyone was all ga-ga over Avery Brooks playing Othello (and don't get me wrong, he was very, very good), I thought the real star of the show was Patrick Page as Iago. He took a really interesting take on the character, playing him less as just a mean and nasty dude and more as a completely remorseless soul who was downright *playful* in his evilness. He actually had you laughing along with him at times, as if his little "jokes" and "games" weren't about people's lives and sanity, but rather just harmless little pranks. It was a masterful interpretation. If you happened to catch his Macbeth last season, this is even better.
And if you happened to catch last season's Pericles and were as annoyed by Colleen Delany's manner of speaking as I was (she has this really annoying, put-on lilt to her voice and doesn't project nearly enough), get ready for some more annoyance - she's Desdemona. Note to the Shakespeare Theatre: stop casting this woman in lead roles. She's really one dimensional and not that good. In contrast, the woman who played Emilia (whose name escapes me at the moment), was excellent. Her scene at the end where she rats out Iago was breathtaking.
Also turning in an excellent performance was the dude who played Cassio. Another repeat Shakespeare Theatre performer (ah, the teensy tiny DC acting community!), he played Cecil in last season's Lady Windermere's Fan, showing an impressive breadth of acting ability (unlike, say, Colleen Delany). He was unbelievably convincing in the "drunken scene," where he falls out of grace with Othello...a scene into which a delightful dance number was woven! Great fun. I sat there grinning throughout the entire scene.
As per usual, the set, costumes and music were very, very good. I'm constantly amazed at what the company manages to do with simple sets in such a relatively small-ish space. It'll be almost sad when they move into their new theater...less intimacy, less challenge...though I'm sure the set folks will be thrilled!