Going to see Shakespeare done by a youth theatre doesnt necessarily fill ones soul with gleeful expectation. This version of Othello, however, trimmed to a spare but coherent forty five minutes by Jill Cole for The Turrets Youth Theatre is terrific.
The adaptation concentrates on the quick downward spiral into mad jealousy of the warrior Othello as his right hand man Iago subtly convinces him that his new, young wife Desdemona has cheated on him.
The story seems to come across with tremendous clarity, which is a tribute to all the performers and the director, though as I have seen the play in its entirety it is hard for me to judge how clear it would be to a first time viewer. All of the principle actors speak the verse very well, not only as if they understand it, but as if they really mean it. The large ensemble act as chorus and play many parts, making the stage teem with action. They also make sound effects live on stage, often eerily echoing important lines.
Nathan Greener as Othello is commanding and moving, though it seems to me he is too soon jealous and irritated by Desdemona, before Iago even gets to work on him. Steven Bainbridges Iago is marvellously still and economic, letting the words do the work, though hes perhaps a bit too obviously evil from the start.
My major criticism is that many of the references to race and colour have been removed, and program notes seem to suggest this is a study in evil not racism. This may be politically correct, but it is wrong. The plot hinges on the fact the state of Venice need this great warrior in their struggle against the Turks, and they tolerate his blackness whilst secretly despising him. Othello himself is basically insecure, feeling deep down he has done something wrong by snatching away this young white girl, and that his colour isnt the only barrier as he is so much older than she is. He is thus easily led into believing she would cheat on him with a young white man. Greeners Othello is a handsome, trendy-looking young man himself, and if you remove the race element in the text its hard to see why everyones running around objecting to the marriage.
That said, if you want to see youth theatre at its best this is the show for you, and this cynical reviewer shed a tear when Naomi Philbricks excellent Desdemona was finally smothered by Othello. Shakespeare then does what really makes him a genius, as over her body Othello utters not flowery verse but the simple, monosyllabic statement: I have no wife.
Devastating.
