Review Round Up: Othello, Theatre Royal Haymarket
Tom Morris’s production of Othello stars David Harewood, Toby Jones, and Caitlin FitzGerald. Below is a summary of critical responses.
The Stage
David Harewood and Toby Jones star in Tom Morris’ overwrought staging.
The Guardian
Harewood’s Othello holds your attention with his physical presence and imperial quality, the sniffs, smirks, and tics in the lead up to his murderously wounded rage. He is so captivating to the other characters that they are frozen as he tells of meeting Desdemona at the start. He woos them, and us.
The Independent
David Harewood reprises the titular role in a starry production that grants more power to the play’s women, but ultimately dulls its edge.
The Standard
What we have here is stately West End Shakespeare, well-spoken and measured, directed by Tom Morris and designed by Ti Green in a way that feels curiously adrift from the modern world. The production could have happened in the 1990s, the 1970s, probably the 1950s: even PJ Harvey’s bizarre and sporadic score seems quaint.
WhatsOnStage
But the three central performances, all in their different ways, fail to gel. Harewood’s Othello is impressive in stillness; the moments when he is gazing at Desdemona full of wonder hint beautifully at the depth of feeling he contains.
Summary
The production delivers strong individual performances but overall struggles to fully connect, presenting a traditional yet somewhat dated interpretation of Othello.
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