Othello is missing the tragedy
Tom Morris’s production starring David Harewood directs the audience’s sympathy toward the wrong character. Othello explores what happens to decent, moral people when confronted by pure evil. For this reason, portraying evil as truly malevolent is essential.
The Theatre Royal Haymarket’s staging, with Harewood as Othello and Toby Jones as Iago, is captivating in many aspects. Ti Green’s set design, featuring twisting arches suspended above the stage and mesh screens projecting eerie images that reveal Othello’s inner thoughts, creates a hypnotic atmosphere.
The production’s pacing is remarkably sharp and fluid, making the nearly three-hour performance feel light and engaging—something that often eludes Shakespearean plays. From an entertainment perspective, it is outstanding.
Performance of Iago
Toby Jones shines as Iago, a role beloved by audiences nationwide for his previous performances, such as in Mr Bates vs The Post Office. His asides to the audience, revealing his scheme to ruin lives simply for amusement, are both captivating and enjoyable. Watching him manipulate Othello into believing his wife Desdemona’s infidelity, which leads to a dreadful crime, is a compelling experience.
Critical observation
Despite its brilliance in many areas, the production lacks the full embodiment of evil necessary to highlight the tragedy’s true depth.
"Tom Morris’s production at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, starring David Harewood in the title role and Toby Jones as his nemesis Iago, is spellbinding in many ways."
"The pacing is so sharp, so slickly executed that two and three-quarter hours fly by with a lightness of touch that often evades Shakespearean productions."
"Jones ... sparkles as Iago. His asides to the audience outlining his plan to ruin other people’s lives for the hell of it captivate and delight."
Author’s summary: While stunning in design and performances, this production of Othello falls short of revealing the full, chilling nature of evil central to the tragedy’s impact.