Othello+Production+(1985)+Royal+Shakespeare+Company

The official website of the Royal Shakespeare Company [|RSC Othello] Directed by Terry Hands, Designed by Ralph Koltai
> > **__Cast List__** > Penny Ryder- Bianca >  Joseph O'Conor-Brabantio > Tom Mannion-Cassio > Arnold Yarrow-Clown > Niamh Cusack-Desdemona > Trevor Martin-Duke of Venice > Janet Dale-Emilia > Paul Webster-Gratiano > David Suchet-Iago > Roger Llewellyn-Lodovico > Richard Conway-Messenger/Herald >  Brian Horstead-Montano >  <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ben Kingsley-Othello > <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Gerald Logan-Roderigo <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
 * Opening Date: 24 September 1985
 * Theatre: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford
 * Theatre Company: Royal Shakespeare Company

Production Review: [|New York Times]

Comparison: <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">The Royal Shakespeare Company’s 1985 production of Othello is “brisk and intelligent, but perhaps a bit under cast in places.” (Nightingale) However, Iago and Othello are brilliantly played by David Suchet and Ben Kingsley. Their performances are filled with rage and grief. The superior acting by the characters enhances the drama adds more feeling to the play. Even the background adds to the experience. The plain black backdrop forces the audience to focus on the actors and the story. The only criticism is that Nightingale sees Kingsley as playing an Othello who seems “motivated too much by wounded pride, too little by a broken heart.” Some would even say that he is overacting at times. While there are flaws with the play, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production adds to the magnificent story of Othello that has been perfected through the ages.



Works Cited:

Nightingale, Bendedict. "Times Theater Review." __STAGE VIEW; BEN KINGSLEY PUTS 'GANDHI' BEHIND HIM__. 26 Jan. 1986. New York Times. 15 Dec. 2008 <http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9a0deed9123ff935a15752c0a960948260>.

Bate, Jonathan, ed. "Othello." __Royal Shakespeare Company: Othello__. Royal Shakespeare Company. 15 Dec. 2008 http://www.rsc.org.uk/content/3118.aspx.

"Hands/Koltai, Royal Shakespeare Company." __Othello__. 2003. Arts and Humanities Data Service. 15 Dec. 2008 http://ahds.ac.uk/ahdscollections/docroot/shakespeare/performancedetails.do?performanceid=11768.