Yes. Finally. I’ve finally managed to see a National Theatre Live production. And now I get what all the fuss is all about.
To tell you the truth, I had already watched “Coriolanus” because of reasons. Mainly because of Tom Hiddleston. And is was perfection. The play, as well as Tom. But I didn’t get to see it on stage or on the cinema either. So it sort of didn’t count.
But last week, I finally went to the cinema to watch the NTL production of Othello and I was blown away. I absolutely loved it. It might be cuz it sums up several of the things I love the most: theater, Shakespeare and cinema. Or it might have been because the production is outstanding.
For all of you who don’t know the story, Othello is a Moorish general in the Venetian army. He has just married Desdemona, the daughter of a Senator. Thing is Iago, Othello’s ensign, hates Othello for promoting a younger and inexperienced man named Cassio above him and because he believes Othello slept with his wife, Emilia. So when they are dispatched to Cyprus to prevent a Turkish invasion, chaos ensues. Iago uses Cassio and Desdemona (and several other people) to drive Othello mad with jealousy. And it works. Big time. I won’t tell you how it ends, but it’s a tragedy by Shakespeare. So most of them end up dead.
NTL’s production starts Adrian Lester as Othello and Rory Kinnear as Iago. They are amazing. The production runs a little over 3 hours and yet it never looses its dramatic hold. You are always on the edge of your seat. The director, Nicholas Hytner, took the action to a modern day military base. And it works. It even makes the play more empathetic. The dialogues and situations are as modern as ever. And its all very witty and agile.
But it all comes down to the due: Othello and Iago. Adrian Lester as Othello, starts the play as an extremely confident and charismatic man. He stands tall and proud and sure of himself and of everyone around him. He is magnetic, he commands the stage. And so it is fascinating to watch when all this starts to crumble down. His confidence isn’t as strong. His security is shot to hell with a single blow. And you can’t help but watch as he falls further and further down until he is nothing but an insecure, nervous wreck.
Rory Kinnear as Iago starts off like the bloke you can go to the pub with, with whom you can drink beer and laugh. But soon you realize that while he might look like your friend, he is the one plotting your downfall while clapping you on the back. He is just mean. He isn’t an evil mastermind, by far. He just knows how to win everyone’s trust and then exploit their weaknesses.
The story is a classic and, as always, it stands the test of time. It’s as contemporary as ever. And the production is flawless. I loved it. I would totally recommend you go to a NTL production.
You can go to their website and search for a venue near you.
