596 years after the King’s Men first performed William Shakespeare’s epic tragedy, Othello, the Charlotte Shakespeare Festival will mount a production of the play as part of its 5th Anniversary Season.
Othello was written during Shakespeare’s great tragic period, which also included the composition of Hamlet (1600), King Lear (1604–5), Macbeth (1606), and Antony and Cleopatra (1606–7). The play takes place during the wars between Venice and Turkey that raged in the latter part of the sixteenth century. Cyprus, which is the setting for most of the action, was a Venetian outpost attacked by the Turks in 1570 and conquered the following year.
Shakespeare combined the history of the Venetian-Turkish and an Italian prose tale written in 1565 by Giovanni Battista Giraldi Cinzio (usually referred to as Cinthio). The original story is the framework for Shakespeare’s plot: a Moorish general is deceived by his ensign into believing his wife is unfaithful. To Cinthio’s story Shakespeare adds supporting characters such as the rich young dupe Roderigo and the outraged and grief-stricken Brabanzio, Desdemona’s father. Shakespeare compresses the action into the space of a few days and sets it against the military conflict. And, most memorably, he turned the ensign, a minor villain, into the arch-villain Iago.
Othello is a noble figure of great authority, respected and admired by the duke and senate of Venice as well as by those who serve him, such as Cassio, Montano and Lodovico. Only Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, depicting him from the beginning as an animalistic, barbarous, foolish outsider.
The story is one of intrigue, love, jealousy, rage and racism. It’s clear that Shakespeare was at the zenith of his creative career. The language in the play is lyrical. The tightly woven plot is artfully crafted. The action and larger-than-life characters will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Othello runs from August, 4 -15 at the McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square in Uptown Charlotte.
Show times are:
- Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm
- Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm
- Saturday 8/7 & 8/14 at 2:00 & 8:00 pm
- Sundays 8/8 & 8/15 at 3:00 pm
Come early and enjoy Festivities, pre-show entertainment featuring an eclectic group of musicians, poets, improvisational comedians and others.
There is no admission charge, but a $5 donation per person is suggested. For more information, visit www.charlotteshakespeare.com.
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