By William Wolf

OTHELLO (SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK)  Send This Review to a Friend

The inherent power of Shakespeare’s enduring “Othello” has been proven over and over again through the ages, and the Public Theater’s new Free Shakespeare in the Park production powerfully proves the point once more. The gripping staging by director Ruben Santiago-Hudson gives fresh life to the tragedy, and the cast is first-rate in this summer open-air offering at the Delacorte Theater (May 29-June 24).

There are always two main tests of any “Othello” production—the performances of Othello and Iago. When we first meet Chukwudi Iwuji as Othello he appears too slightly built for the mean-spirited, racist description of him as the physically overbearing Moor, but his acting immediately gives him genuine stature and a charismatic persona, and that builds forcefully into a tremendous, memorable performance.

Corey Stoll’s Iago doesn’t attempt shadings. He is brashly manipulative throughout, a performance with deviousness, malicious cunning and determination to bring down Othello in retaliation for his not achieving the status he believes he deserves. The performance achieves nastiness on all counts and adds to this presentation's success.

There are other standouts as well, especially by Heather Lind as a very credible, lovely Desdemona, who exhibits a streak of spirit as well as victimhood, and by Alison Wright as Iago’s doomed wife Emilia, who comes through with vibrant, deeply moving rage in exposing her husband’s evil deed of sowing jealousy in Othello that leads to his murder of Desdemona.

To director Santiago-Hudson’s special credit, the murder scene is staged differently from the ways that I have seen it done before, and the result is so visually effective that it can hold an audience spellbound and utterly silent, as was the case on the night I attended.

Various cast members are also excellent, including Babak Tafti as Cassio, Motell Foster as Roderigo and Flor De Liz Perez as Bianca. The set design by Rachel Hauck is simple but effective, and she has the bed rising from below for the fatal crime scene. Toni-Leslie James’s costumes fit the 17th Century period depicted. And fight director Thomas Schall makes the swordplay realistic and chilling. Other staging elements, including lighting, sound and music, are expertly blended for maximum effect in the pleasant outdoor setting, marred only occasionally by the inevitable airplane passing overhead. At the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Entrance at 81st Street and Central Park West and 79th Street and Fifth Avenue. Phone: 212-539-8500. Reviewed June 19th, 2018.

  

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