Shakespeare 2016 - Othello.

[Gramaisc]

I saw a flyer today advertising this year's Shakespeare at the Castle - it is Othello, but set in 1956 in Cyprus - although, it's in Limassol for some reason, rather than Famagusta where the real Othello was governor at one point, if it is anything to do with him, anyway.

http://www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.com/

 

[Withnail]

Bit of a coup getting Darth Maul in the lead role, i thought he was dead?

 

[Wormella]

Anyone been yet? We've matinee tickets for the 9th of July.









Moved to existing thread.

 

[John Marwood]

Is the castle accessible during the day?

I want to take a bird up the mound

 

[proactive]

Is the castle accessible during the day?

I want to take a bird up the mound

I almost spat my wine out...

 

[highguyuk]

Anyone been yet? We've matinee tickets for the 9th of July..

We went on Monday night. Have been to a few of them, although gave last year a miss as I thought it was getting a bit repetitive.

I wasn't familiar with Othello beforehand and it is much longer than others before at the Castle. The performance started at 8, we had a roughly 20 minute interval and it finished approximately 11:30. To us (sorry to say), it wasn't as enjoyable as previously productions. The story is generally quite depressing and the monologues are long. There was a lot of shuffling in seats by the end, a couple behind us left at the interval as they were too uncomfortable with the length.

I will say it is performed brilliantly as usual, I always appreciate how the actors can memorise these productions faultlessly. Othello is great, but the star is Iago. I wouldn't rush back to see it again though...

 

[Gramaisc]

Was Limassol featured much? Any mention of No 4, Thessalia Street, by any chance?

 

[Wormella]

We went on Monday night. Have been to a few of them, although gave last year a miss as I thought it was getting a bit repetitive.

I wasn't familiar with Othello beforehand and it is much longer than others before at the Castle. The performance started at 8, we had a roughly 20 minute interval and it finished approximately 11:30. To us (sorry to say), it wasn't as enjoyable as previously productions. The story is generally quite depressing and the monologues are long. There was a lot of shuffling in seats by the end, a couple behind us left at the interval as they were too uncomfortable with the length.

I will say it is performed brilliantly as usual, I always appreciate how the actors can memorise these productions faultlessly. Othello is great, but the star is Iago. I wouldn't rush back to see it again though...

Excellent, sounds perfect, I'm no fan of Shakespeare's comedies - so glad to see some meat back in the productions

 

[Withnail]

Yes.

Also unfamiliar with Othello but would disagree, Iago's wife (Emilia) is where it's @!

What's the matter?

It's long, like, really long - matinee is also where it's @ with this one.

Personally, it was only long, time being relative, when i knew it was way past most people's bedtime at fin, c.11.30pm finish means post-midnight home-time, that sort of thing - this won't be an issue post matinee of course. Time being relative, the production itself really raced, and i really enjoyed it.

It was good, everyone was good, Othello was hugely good - Cyprus, and Limassol, was largely absent, beyond its setting, the odd radio broadcast to tie you to 'place', 50's tunes to tie you to the 'times', that sort of thing - Emilia was fantastic, Iago was baffling but that's hardly his fault (what's the matter?), Bianca was bigger than the part she had, Cassio i thought, was admirable, but i have subsequently been informed that he is not "gorgeous" enough, though i thought that i rather 'would' if one was that way inclined.

So what's the matter?

The meat of it is, who knows? Iago might...

 

[Wormella]

We really enjoyed it (and the weather held) - but was glad we'd opted for a matinee.

The best staging of anything we'd see at the castle in years