Bare Theatre Preview

By Robert W. McDowell, Triangle Theatre Review
February 15, 2008

William Shakespeare’s “Othello, the Moor of Venice” is
a timeless tragedy of jealousy leading to murder

Raleigh, NC-based Bare Theatre will present Othello, The Moor Of Venice, English playwright William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy of jealousy leading to murder, written in about 1603, on Feb. 14-17 at Common Ground Theatre in Durham and Feb. 21 and 22 at the Holly Springs Cultural Center in Holly Springs. Bare artistic director Carmen-maria Mandley will stage the show, which will star Byron Jennings as Othello, Bare managing director Heather J. Hackford as Desdemona, Seth Blum as Iago, and Rebecca Blum as Emilia.

“My first experience with Othello was with the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival [now the Orlando Shakespeare Theater],” recalls director Carmen-maria Mandley. “I remember being terrified and unable to turn away at the same time. It is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays -- it is always a present energy looming.

Mandley says Othello opens on a street in Venice. She says, “Iago (Seth Blum) complains to Roderigo (Jeff Buckner) that Othello the Moor (Byron Jennings) chose Cassio (Kacey Reynolds) to be his lieutenant, rather than Iago. Iago vows to stay loyal to Othello only as long as it works to his advantage. They then inform Brabantio (Joyce Davis) that his daughter Desdemona (Heather Hackford) is amorous and stolen away [by] Othello. Barbantio soon finds she is missing.

“At Othello’s house,” says Mandley, “Cassio and other officers arrive summoning Othello to the Duke of Venice (Nancy Rich) on urgent matters. At the Duke’s chambers, Brabantio accuses Othello of using spells and potions to win Desdemona. [Othello] proves through Desdemona that this is not so, and Brabantio reluctantly relents. We then learn that the Turkish fleet (the Ottomites) is sailing toward Cypress. The Duke asks Othello to go defend it, and Desdemona asks to come with him.”

Mandley says, “Othello asks Iago to take care of Desdemona and follow him to Cyprus. Roderigo laments to Iago that he has lost Desdemona since Othello has married her. Iago convinces Roderigo to make money by selling his lands and fighting in wars. Over time, Iago tells the simple Roderigo that Othello will tire of Desdemona and she will again become available. Iago, for his own part, reveals much at this point to the audience about his plan.

“At Cyprus,” Mandley says, “the governor Montano (Richard Butner) reports that a tempest has drowned the Turkish fleet, effectively eliminating their threat. Next, Cassio arrives, then Iago, his wife Emilia (Rebecca Blum), and Desdemona, and lastly, Othello. In private, Iago tells Roderigo he believes Desdemona is in love with Cassio, based on their flirting before Othello arrived. He convinces Roderigo to use violence with Cassio to get Cassio stripped of title. Alone, Iago reveals his plans to make Othello jealous of Cassio and/or Roderigo for courting Desdemona.”

Mandley adds, “That evening, after supper, Othello and Desdemona head to bed, while Iago arrives with wine, hoping to get Cassio drunk. He does, then Roderigo eggs him on, and a fight ensues, pulling Montano into the melee. Othello breaks it up; and after Iago explains (pretending not to know Roderigo), Othello tells Cassio he is no longer his lieutenant. Privately, Iago convinces Cassio to entreat Desdemona to ask Othello to reinstate him. Alone, Iago reveals that he’ll use their private meetings to convince Othello that Desdemona is disloyal.

“At the Citadel (Othello’s lodging), Cassio entreats Desdemona to help him,” says Mandley. “When Iago and Othello appear in the distance, Cassio leaves. Desdemona relays Cassio’s penance, then leaves herself. Iago begins dropping hints of his ‘suspicions’ about Cassio and Desdemona to Othello, to which Othello probes Iago for his thoughts. Thus, Iago plants the seed that Desdemona is being disloyal to Othello. All throughout, Othello keeps stating how he genuinely believes Iago is of ‘exceeding honesty.’ Gratiano and Lodovico are played by Sarah Schmitt and Khoa Pam. The Clowns and attendants are played by Tara Pozo and Garret Stein-Serroussi. To know more, please come visit us at the theater.”

In addition to artistic director Carmen-maria Mandley, who doubles as costume designer for Othello, the show’s creative team includes assistant director and dramaturg Loren Armitage, stage combat advisor Heather Hackford, lighting designer Andy Parks, properties mistress Susan Buker, sound designer G. Todd Buker, and stage manager Missy Dapper. This production features original music by Todd Buker.

Mandley notes, “We have a four-man drum circle onstage for this show -- [that’s] not a challenge, but a welcome change -- to allow our composer G. Todd Buker [to get] out of the sound booth and [play] live. He accompanied by Gill Buker, Khoa Pham, and Richard Butner. This is the heartbeat of our play.”

In keeping with the company name, Mandley says, Bare Theatre’s set for Othello is “very simple: two benches, a table, and a chair (the play moves in circles)” and its lighting is “stark, dark, sectional.” She adds that the show’s costumes are “mixed.” She explains, “When Othello returns from the wars, he and the warriors bring things from distant lands.”

Director Carmen-maria Mandley cautions, “We don’t mince words or mince violence. We are attempting to keep this true.” She notes that Venice and Cypress are lands in chaos, and adds, “We hope you’ll walk away a little changed.”

Bare Theatre presents Othello, The Moor Of Venice Thursday-Friday, Feb. 14-15, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 16, at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. at Common Ground Theatre, 4815B Hillsborough Rd., Durham, North Carolina; and Thursday-Feb. 21-22, at 8 p.m. at the Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., Holly Springs, North Carolina. $15 ($7 students, seniors, and active-duty military personnel). Common Ground Theatre (Feb. 14-17): 919/771-3281 or http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/25238. Holly Springs Cultural Center (Feb 21-22): 919/567-4000 or etix.com. BARE THEATRE: http://www.baretheatre.org/next.html. SHAKESPEARE RESOURCES (courtesy the University of Virginia): http://etext.virginia.edu/shakespeare/. E-TEXT (also courtesy UVa): http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/ShaOthF.html (1623 First Folio Edition) and http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/MobOthe.html (1866 Globe Edition, edited by William George and William Aldis Wright).