Othello
William Shakespeare
San Jose Stage Company
The more Iago’s seeds of deceit begin to take root and wind their deadly vines around the too-receptive Othello, the more brilliant becomes Director Kenneth Kelleher’s decision to place San Jose Stage Company’s production of the Bard’s tragedy in a barely lit, black-walled jazz club of the 1950’s. With the background, haunting moan of a single sax punctuated by lightly brushed cymbals, Iago in suit and glasses both black as night wanders to a single spotlight, mike in hand, and begins to sing,
“That old black magic has me in its spell,
That old black magic that you weave so well,
Those icy fingers up and down my spine,
The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine.”
And as he sings, he grabs a phone to report to Desdemona’s father that his daughter is being topped by the Black Moor.
The first seed is planted. The film noir mood of ultimate doom already engulfs the dark, ominous environment as San Jose Stage Company mounts an engrossing, stunning and unsettling Othello that so powerfully speaks to the current rise of troubles, both racist and sexist, in our own country.
Please continue to Talkin’ Broadway for my complete review.
Rating: 5 E, MUST-SEE
A Theatre Eddys Best Bet Production
Othello continues through June 25, 2023, in production by San Jose Stage Company, 490 South First Street, San Jose, CA. Tickets are available online at https://www.thestage.org or by email at boxoffice@thestage.org.
Photo Credit: Kenneth Kelleher
