Brief thoughts on Othello (Theatre Royal Haymarket), dir. Tom Morris and ft. David Harewood

Yesterday I was thinking about killing myself. But weeks ago, I had bought a ticket for Othello at Theatre Royal Haymarket, so today I went. 

I was in tears by the end.

The best part of the production was David Harewood’s performance. The first black actor to play Othello at the National Theatre in 1997 (shocking, I know), he now returns to the role when he’s more, er, “declined into the vale of years”, and delivers a great performance. Here is a noble Moor, here is a dignified and strong general, and yet he makes one feel uneasy when he says “My life upon her faith”, and later “Perdition catch my soul/ But I do love thee. And when I love thee not/ Chaos is come again.” He plays Othello with dignity, and with vulnerability. When Iago puts poison in his ear, he cracks, all collapses. His threat to kill Iago and his changed behaviour towards Desdemona are terrifying. But Othello is not a base little man—the nobility is there—one leaves the play feeling pity and sorrow for a noble man ensnared and corrupted by a villain. The play belongs to Othello—to David Harewood. 

I’m not sure if I prefer him or Adrian Lester in the role.

I also like Tom Byrne as Roderigo and Vinette Robinson as Emilia. Generally speaking, Tom Morris respects the text—no nonsense, no gimmicks—it’s interesting to see Iago’s wife played by a black actress, which gets you to see Iago in a different light. However, I think Tom Morris makes a few questionable choices. Sometimes he uses a bit too much stage effects, which is distracting, and sometimes the staging is slightly odd, such as when Desdemona (Caitlyn Fitzgerald) is praying and preparing for bed onstage at the same time as Roderigo wounding Cassio and getting killed by Iago. Especially questionable is the removal of Desdemona seemingly returning from death and exonerating Othello—we hear a sound effect instead of Desdemona, and she does not speak—why? 

But my main problem with this production is Toby Jones as Iago. I guess you could argue that he approaches the role differently, which is fine, considering that Ian McKellen and Bob Hoskins and Rory Kinnear are very different Iagos and all great. I came across a theatre forum thread in which people were discussing this production and a few of them said Toby Jones played Iago as a weakling, or a little weasel, who’s constantly bewildered that his plans are working. You might think it works, you have to see for yourself. My problem with his performance is that I don’t think he conveys a sense of menace except till the very end, when he says “What you know, you know.” 

So do I think this is a great production? No, my favourite is still the one from 2013, with Adrian Lester as Othello and Rory Kinnear as Iago. 

Do I think it’s worth watching? Yes, David Harewood is magnificent and the final scene would wreck you.