‘Othello’ a green-eyed masterpiece

The actors, directors and craftspeople at Glendale’s A Noise Within

are masters at interpreting classical theater. The current production

of Shakespeare’s “Othello” is no exception.

It is a solid recreation, featuring an exceptional Iago and a

haunting title character.

However, the production lacks that enchanting transcendence we’ve

come to expect from the company.

Director and actor Geoff Elliott brings his unique sensibilities

to the coveted role of Iago. He injects a disturbing energy into the

character, as if he’s aroused by his own evil genius.

We are intrigued by him as we would be a serial murderer,

disgusted and fascinated by the depth and complexity of his thought.

Like a chess player, he plots his course to undo Othello well in

advance and carries it out with a brilliant facade of honesty.

Elliott’s Iago is a true sociopath. And therefore it is alarming

to see what appears to be a dramatic act of remorse in the final

scene.

It is just as morbidly fascinating to watch the mental undoing of

confident and brave General Othello, Moor of Venice.

Played unerringly by Harold Surratt, Othello stands tall and

confident at the beginning of the play. As he lets the doubts about

his wife’s fidelity, planted cunningly by Iago, infiltrate his mind,

his body starts to droop and his brow wrinkles. By the end, he’s

gesticulating strangely and mumbling nonsense.

He’s a broken man, spiraling down to the place where he miserably

commits a heinous act, the bare-handed murder of his loving wife.

The staging of this murder scene is a good example of the creative

mind of set designer Michael C. Smith.

It is observed through gauzy fabrics as if we’re voyeurs on an

intensely private scene. Fabrics play an important role in the whole

production and add (intentionally?) to the pervasive heaviness of the

show.

Yards and yards of draping velvets and linens are used on stage

and in the beautiful period costumes by Jennifer Brawn Gittings.

The soldiers’ leathers are formidable (and they look great on them

too).

All this does amplify the oppressive weight of Iago’s deceitful

plans, Othello’s escalating madness, and the inevitable tragic

deaths, but the heaviness also leads to more than a few yawns in the

audience.

There’s a certain magnetism between actors and audience we’ve come

to expect from A Noise Within that’s missing in this production.

This is one of Shakespeare’s more challenging plays and is

exceedingly long.

The actors seem to feel the need to hurry through lines that

should be savored and more fully understood.

Still, any chance to see “Othello” performed by the talented and

creative ensemble at A Noise Within should be taken.

FYI

WHAT: “Othello” by William Shakespeare

WHERE: A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale

WHEN: Plays in repertory through Dec. 8

TICKETS: $32 to $36

CONTACT: (818) 240-0910

LISA DUPUY is a former member of the Shakespeare Club (seventh

grade, Malaga Cove School) and a lover of the Bard’s works since

then.