Othello Is Missing the Tragedy
Tom Morris’s production of Othello, starring David Harewood and Toby Jones, dazzles the audience with its energy and technical mastery but loses part of its tragic essence.
A Brilliant but Hollow Spectacle
The play explores the corrosion of morality when pure evil infiltrates the lives of honorable people. For the tragedy to resonate, that evil must feel truly dark. While this production at the Theatre Royal Haymarket excels in style, it softens the moral weight that defines Shakespeare’s original vision.
Stagecraft and Design
The set by Ti Green features twisting arches suspended overhead and translucent screens projecting unsettling images that mirror Othello’s mind. The design is hypnotic, drawing viewers deep into the character’s mental unraveling.
Performances
David Harewood delivers a commanding Othello, while Toby Jones’s Iago—played with unsettling charm and precision—nearly steals the show. Jones, beloved for his role in Mr Bates vs The Post Office, turns Iago into a captivating manipulator whose plots fascinate as much as they horrify.
Jones’s asides to the audience outlining his plan to ruin other people’s lives for the hell of it captivate and delight.
The Missing Darkness
Despite its visual brilliance and tight pacing, the production struggles to convey true evil. The audience, instead of recoiling from Iago’s malice, often finds themselves charmed by it. The result is a gripping show that entertains but lacks the chilling moral gravity that makes Othello a tragedy.
Author’s Summary
An exquisitely crafted production that dazzles the senses yet softens the moral darkness at the heart of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
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