Review Round Up: Othello, Theatre Royal Haymarket
We summarize the critical reception of Tom Morris’s production of Othello, featuring David Harewood, Toby Jones, and Caitlin FitzGerald.
The Stage
“David Harewood and Toby Jones star in Tom Morris’ overwrought staging.”
The Guardian
“Harewood’s Othello holds your attention with his physical presence and imperial quality, the sniffs, smirks and tics leading up to his murderously wounded rage. He is so captivating to the other characters that they freeze as he recounts meeting Desdemona at the start. He woos them, and us.”
The Independent
“David Harewood reprises the titular role in a starry production that empowers the play’s women more than usual, but ultimately dulls its dramatic edge.”
The Standard
This is stately West End Shakespeare: well-spoken and measured, directed by Tom Morris and designed by Ti Green in a style that feels oddly detached from the present day. The production might as well belong to the 1990s, 1970s, or even 1950s. PJ Harvey’s sporadic and curious score adds to the quaint atmosphere.
WhatsOnStage
“The three central performances, each distinctive, do not quite harmonize. Harewood’s Othello shines in moments of stillness; his gaze at Desdemona, full of wonder, beautifully suggests the depth of his feeling.”
Author’s summary: Tom Morris’s Othello showcases strong individual performances amid a traditional staging, though it struggles to fully unite its elements or modernize the story’s impact.