This is a review of a live performance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, and which was televised.
The story of Othello is a well known one, combining love, jealousy and betrayal. Othello (Eamonn Walker) marries Desdemona (Zoe Tapper), and his jealous soldier Iago (Tim McInnery) conspires to make Othello believe – wrongly – that Desdemona has cheated on him. Othello’s jealousy and rage wreaks devastating results.
What a fabulous production this was – I only wish I could have seen it live, rather than a televised performance. Eamonn Walker was just superb as the title character – perfectly displaying in the first part of the play exactly why Desdemona has fallen in love with him (quite frankly, who wouldn’t fall in love with him?!) He is noble, wise and devoted to his wife. Which makes his breakdown as a result of his belief that his wife has been unfaithful, all the more devastating. It is truly a stunningly good performance. The same can be said of Tim McInnery, who played the diabolical Iago with such aplomb, bringing menace and humour to the role.
Zoe Tapper as Desdemona, and Lorraine Burroughs as Emilia both looked beautiful, and were excellent in their respective roles. In fact, there was no weak link in the cast at all. The staging was simple but effective, and the costumes were glorious. But more importantly, the play was incredibly compelling and dramatic – at a little over three hours, it is not a short play, but every minute is worth watching.
I strongly recommend this, especially but not only, for Shakespeare fans.
Year of production: 2007 (first televised in 2008)
Director: Wilson Milam
Writer: William Shakespeare (play)
Main cast: Eamonn Walker, Tim McInnery, Zoe Tapper, Lorraine Burroughs, Sam Crane, Nick Barber
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