1 week Ago By Joe Dwinell
A tale of cunning manipulation written during a plague, with actors keeping the audience gripped with every nod and slash, makes “Othello” otherworldly.Denzel Washington, in the titular role, and Jake Gyllenhaal, as the scheming Iago, give William Shakespeare’s classic new life.Molly Osborne, as Desdemona, the innocent recipient of Iago’s psychological torture, almost steals the show with her lithe portrayal of Othello’s doomed wife.
But that’s practically impossible considering the star power on stage.To see Washington crawling on the floor in agony over Desdemona’s alleged adultery and Gyllenhaal’s veins bulging on his neck as he spins his evil web is to witness top-tier acting.The ensemble is the star of this tragedy at the Barrymore Theatre in New York City in a performance directed by Kenny Leon.
It’s a testament to both Washington and Gyllenhaal who leave room for their fellow actors to shine, or at least keep pace.I purchased tickets months ago not realizing the play would be the talk of Broadway. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were seated a few rows ahead as was ABC’s David Muir, but I attended out of my love for Shakespeare not knowing it may be Washington’s last hurrah.
The man behind me in line, like so many others, made a pilgrimage to West 47th Street to be at one of Washington’s final performances. Others cheered the star actor on for the same reason, or so it seemed.That energy was on display as the cast seamlessly engaged with the crowd.
From the very first act Gyllenhaal commits to Iago’s deviousness and he never lets up. Washington’s Othello is carried along by the same trickery as he plays both the U.S.
Marine general and war-weary comrade.The play is modernized by the Marine desert fatigues. PTSD is a focus and a statement that nations rise and fall but war — and its fallout — always remains.
The pained love affair between Othello and Desdemona is where Shakespeare rises through the centuries.“I understand a fury in your words, But not the words.” Desdemona is crushed by her husband’s accusations that she has betrayed him with Cassio, played by Andrew Burnap.
This line sticks with the audience and was delivered with passion by Osborne. It’s the lasting message of the play. She’s trapped, not able to cool Othello’s anger yet knowing in her heart she has done nothing wrong.
Othello, the Moor who just defeated the Turks in Cyprus for his Venetian rulers, should be celebrating instead of fuming.“Put out the light, and then put out the light.”Othello says after accusing Desdemona of infidelity and kills her.
Iago set Othello’s fate in motion earlier and loses all control.“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!It is the green-eyed monster which doth mockThe meat it feeds on.”Iago’s words are poison to everyone who listens.
“One that loved not wisely but too well.”Othello admits, too late to save his and Desdemona’s post-war dreams.There are lessons in every act of “Othello,” maybe none stronger than losing your reputation.
“Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving.”Iago preaches that to Cassio early in the play foreshadowing the ruin pride will bring down on everyone.Shakespeare was at the peak of his powers when he wrote “Othello” around 1603, scholars say.
It’s also when the Bubonic plague forced everyone inside. That fact only heightens the delusional jealousy central to the play. It even spawned the “Othello Syndrome,” with its persistent and irrational suspicions of infidelity.
In our post-pandemic times it’s easy to relate to what living in close quarters while wars rage in Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere can foment.“Othello” is a cautionary tale of what losing grip of trust can do. Seeing Washington, Gyllenhaal and Osborne portray the triple destruction to close the play drives home the point that no matter how bad it gets, and the COVID pandemic was high up that chart, the real curse is upon us.
How do you respond to a “crack in your love?” as Shakespeare writes in “Othello.”It’s up to each of us to ignore the whispers in our ears and decide for ourselves how to rise above the chatter.Shakespeare brought me to NYC, but Washington and Gyllenhaal will keep me examining “Othello” for a long time.
They committed to the piece and the message of caring for our soldiers and the turmoil of the post-war years deserves all the compassion we can muster.This was a pilgrimage. To a play, a place and people you just have to see once in your life to truly appreciate.
Molly Osborne, who plays Desdemona, attends the “Othello” Broadway production media day at Tavern on the Green on Feb. 10 in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP).
