Review: 'Othello'

by Hannah Whyman,

Before reading my written review listen to URY's preview of the production.

Mark France's production of othello was an absolute joy to watch. A talented cast and minimalistic staging set in a claustrophic corner of the Theatre Royal made it an evening well spent.

The play was staged in the Studio part of the Theatre Royal meaning the fast pace of the script and the simmering tensions between the characters was greatly emphasised. At times, it was easy to forget one was a member of the audience and not, say, a spectator of the royal court. Although small, the cast used the space well and there was never a sense of clumsiness among them even when all members were onstage.

Iago was portrayed very well and he commanded the action brilliantly, playing on the slight injections of humour with precision. Roderigo contrasted wonderfully with Iago and they conveyed a clear sense of who was the powerless and powerful. Dermot Daly gave a brilliant performance as Othello both as the hero and the warrior and as the jealous, paranoid husband. It would have been great if, at the climatic moment of the play, Daly had injected just a touch more passion so that his emotions conveyed genuine tragedy but he never the less gave a worthy performance. Desdemona, played by the university's very own Katie Macintyre, was a similarly excellent performance. She had the audience silently pleading with her to realise Iago's sinister plot against her and Othello and on the verge of weeping in the final stages of her young life.

The other characters in the play only added to its success. The young Cassio contributed to the lighter moments of the play and pulled off his fighting scenes very well. Emilia gave a brilliant performance as Desdemona's companion and servant and despite her earlier disloyalty regarding the handkerchief, her final speech commanded respect from the audience. And it was interesting to see the Duke as a woman, which was a nice touch to a play of great misogyny.

A highly recommended performance.

And make sure you tune in to YorWorld this Sunday for our audio review of 'Othello' with Hannah and Tom Bonnington.