Have always had immense appreciation and even love for Shakespeare's plays, they are also very interesting to study and analyse (studying 'Macbeth', 'Twelfth Night' and 'Much Ado About Nothing', a few others but not as prominently, was one of not particularly many happy memories had of school). The National Theatre Live series is fascinating, just love how accessible it is too and how there is a mix of literary classics and new discoveries either done traditionally or as a concept production.
'Othello', regardless of any criticisms of considered implausibility (such as for some how easily Iago is believed by Othello and how long it takes for Emilia to come forward) and political incorrectness, is nonetheless one of my most fondly regarded Shakespeare plays. Not just the masterful language, with some of Shakespeare's most famous lines that have true intensity and poetic meaning, but also the dramatic conflict, both darkly intense and poignant, and one of his most interesting characters in the evil incarnate Iago (Othello too is one of his more interesting titular characters).
Am not going to respectfully agree with the previous two reviewers. While it is not a traditional performance and the concept on paper did not sound like it would work, actually found this 'Othello' great and not a distasteful one. As far as the Shakespeare productions at this (around mid-point) point of the National Theatre Live series go at this stage, found this one of the better ones along with 'Timon of Athens' and especially 'King Lear' (the still quite intriguing but uneven 'The Comedy of Errors' being the weakest).
There could have been more of what drove Iago to be as jealous of Othello like he is, and not having enough of that it was more down to race was a mistake and like Nicholas Hytner was being too careful in this aspect.
Conversely, the production has an interesting look to it and fitted the concept well. The intensity of the military camp setting is brought out effectively in the claustrophobic but never tacky look of the sets that fill the large space very well. There is a box-like look too cleverly used, capturing Iago's scheming well. The lighting is atmospheric and not too drab. Didn't ever feel the length of what is a long production, and the setting didn't come over as at odds with the story and themes. The storytelling is concise and a great job is done making it coherent, the main themes are present and done with depth and the crucial elements are handled neatly and with intensity, poignancy and sometimes humour without over-tidiness. A lot happens but it doesn't feel bloated and it is always done with taste and for a reason. The character interaction has full impact, especially the most crucial one between Othello and Iago. Iago and Rodrigo's interaction is equally as good.
Rory Kinnear's Iago is worth seeing this 'Othello' for alone, showing that he can play evil-incarnate villains just as well as he can tormented characters. He brings a wicked sense of humour, while not over-doing it, and also a twisted malevolence that is again not overdone so it makes Iago's deceit of Othello buyable. Adrian Lester is a tremendously powerful Othello, the intensity sears but nuanced enough to not become too manic and he is very moving at the end. Olivia Vinall is a movingly dignified but never passive Desdemona. Jonathan Bailey brings humour and pathos to Cassio and Lyndsey Marshal gives a fiery yet nuanced performance as Emilia.
Altogether, great production. 9/10
