One of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies is about to take to the stage at The Segal. Othello, a story of racism, love, jealousy and betrayal, is a theme that applied to many societies of the day – and still does. Hence the reason for it being the choice for so many community and professional theatres.

Othello is indeed timeless.

This Segal show is a co-production with Scapegoat Carnivale Theatre, a recent winner of nine Meta awards for The Bacchae. It is the first Shakespeare piece to be mounted at the Segal in over ten years and has an added caveat to it. A father/daughter team. (Alison Darcy directs and her father, Maurice Podbrey, past Artistic Director of Centaur Theatre, performs in the show.)

This is Darcy’s main stage directorial debut at The Segal. She has gathered around her a solid cast of actors: Andrew Moodie, Sean Arbuckle, Amanda Lisman, Daniel Brochu, Marcel Jeannin, Julie Tamiko Manning, Paul Hopkins, Gitanjali Jain and Daniel Lillford.

The play promises a classical interpretation with contemporary set and costume design by Veronique Bertrand.

“We have chosen a classical interpretation of the play, maintaining the richness and complexity of the language, while emphasizing the clarity and rapid pace of the story”. (Darcy)

Othello takes place during a time of war between Turkey and Venice in the 16th century. The Senate (yes, they had one too) has engaged the services of the great and powerful battlefield strategist, Othello, a popular hero and Venetian Moor, to take charge of their fight against the Turks. Trusted and honest, he has been given free access to marry his beautifully innocent and most beloved child-like Desdemona whom he loves and adores and will protect at all costs in devoted possession.

Iago, unquestionably trusted as Othello’s close advisor and friend, has been overlooked in promotion, being denied his Officer’s commission for that of Cassio, a rival for the post. Blinded with rage, Iago vows to bring down the Moor and all that is his. The success of such ferocious planning and its inevitable tragedies revolve around the simple and innocent fact of a sweet diaphanous handkerchief. Othello represents one of Shakespeare’s great examples of human weakness, in this case exploited through the frailty of irreproachable naivety.

Othello is considered by some to be the most romantic of all of Shakespeare’s heroes. By others – simply egotistical. It remains to be seen which of those characteristics – if not both – take the lead on the Segal stage.

An interracial relationship, sublime love, smothering revenge are readily seen around us in our present society. So…have we advanced very much these days in our own world?  This is not “a Jolly Othello”!

Othello is on from November 17 to December 1.
For more information: http://www.segalcentre.org
Box Office: 514-739-7944

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