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Office • The setting for my production would be in the workplace, specifically an office during the 21st century. Scandals and corruption are quite common in an office setting . That is basically what Othello’s plot is based off of. The competition and greed between the characters, which is prevalent in office jobs today, is what leads to their ultimate downfall. The characters would have modern costumes and dress business casually. Most characters would only be focused on gaining the highest status and rank. The characters would already have a decently high rank socially, so most of them would act arrogant and conceited with others since they are all concerned about climbing to the top of the corporate ladder. This would create tension and distrust in the workforce, leading to the unfortunate events that occur in the play. The setting would appropriately portray the plot of Othello, which is mainly showing how deception and greed consumed the characters and determined their disastrous outcome.
This set of a conference room would be good for the scene in the council chamber. It seems to be a very grim and business-like room. The room is very modern and fancy, since the company in my production is prominent. I would picture all of the characters called in for an emergency business meeting as solemn and a bit confused once the meeting is interrupted because of the news of Othello and Desdemona’s secret marriage. Everyone will then be surprised. The meeting becomes very serious and the room fits perfectly for the scene, since it adds to the tension and pressure of these types of meetings.
I chose this set for the scene where Othello kills Desdemona. It is very elegant and beautiful, and you would never think that Othello would commit such a horrible crime in that nice of a room. Desdemona’s innocence could also be represented by how clean the room is and the white sheets. I would picture Othello tossing and turning in bed, talking to himself and debating whether he should do this to his wife. As Desdemona would wake up sleepy because she was comfortably asleep, Othello would start going crazy. The room would then be used to bring most of the characters together where everything is confessed and made clearer. This is a very dramatic scene, and I feel that this room is perfect for that kind of setting.
Corruption and Greed leads to disaster • The main theme I want to get across to the audience is that the idea that by being deceiving and corrupt people can get whatever they desire with no problem is misleading in itself. This action can only lead to disaster and guilt and will never make people truly happy when they gain everything they want. This is definitely represented well in Othello, when one person’s greed influences others and eventually leads to everyone’s pursuit for selfish gain to become worthless. The better course is to be honest and trustworthy, like Cassio, in the play.
Othello • A good actor who could play Othello is Samuel L. Jackson. He has starred in many intense and thrilling movies and would be perfect for the role of Othello. Othello is a very dramatic character and has a very important role in the play. Samuel would be able to handle Othello’s role and his ruthless personality that is made manifest towards the end of the play. He would also be able to play Othello as an authoritative man, but also a gentleman with Desdemona. He would be dressed the best out of everyone, since he is in the highest position. I picture Othello as approachable, with a gentle personality and kind face. He wouldn’t play Othello as someone who abuses his power, but considerate of others. He would say his lines in the beginning of the play tenderly, since he is mainly talking to his wife whom he is deeply in love with. Towards the end of the play, he would progressively say his lines more and more bitterly, until he eventually snaps in the end goes crazy. This will emphasize the contrast in his personality and the dramatic events that take place in his life.
Desdemona • I would make Anne Hathaway Desdemona because she plays characters that are dramatic yet innocent very well. Since she is pretty and capable of showing emotion in her acting, she would be perfect to play as Desdemona. She would be the most beautiful worker, in the company, so other men in the work force would be jealous of Othello as in the play. I would picture Desdemona as gentle and kind like Othello, yet very fragile. Desdemona’s character goes through a lot of tragic events and shows a lot of emotion, including loyal love to Othello and pain as she sees the change in events that lead to disaster. She would be able to portray those emotions well, which is vital to grab the attention of the audience and make the play emotional. She would have the finest and most beautiful clothes, and would mainly wear dresses. She would say her lines humbly with Othello. She would be very innocent and not haughty at all. She would need to show a lot of emotion before she dies in the play and say her lines in a way that hints that Othello betrayed her. This emphasizes how her character was wrongfully accused as part of Iago’s terrible scheme to seize power.
Iago • I would make Daniel Craig Iago because he is very good at playing dramatic characters, which defines who Iago is. Iago is all about drama and he is the main villain of the play. I think he would be able to play Iago’s sinister character well and help the audience to see how deceitful he is and the terrible disaster he causes. I would imagine him very clean-cut in dress and very two-faced. He would always have a smirk on his face and talk sarcastically since he is always lying and swindling people. He would be very jealous and cocky, since his plan to reach the highest rank (replacing Othello) is the plot of the play. He will have a look of complete terror when he is caught and punished towards the end. His role is important because Iago is the antagonist of the play and causes all of the terrible drama in the play and basically attempts to destroy the other characters. Daniel will have to show Iago’s evil side that he tries to hide from everyone else. Iago will look entirely defeated once he is taken away in my production, so as to reiterate the theme and lesson of the play: corruption and greed never succeeds.
Cassio • I would make Tom Hiddleston Cassio because he has had experience with playing this character in real life. The emotion he showed in the play was raved about by viewers because it helped make his character, Michael Cassio more understandable. He is very handsome and looks like a gentleman, which defines Cassio. He would dress very sharply and dress in suits. I picture Cassio like Tom, with green eyes and perfect brown hair, adding to his “irresistibility” with women. Cassio’s good looks and charm is taken advantage of by Iago in the play. However, Cassio is very naive to this, which is important for Tom to show in his acting. He would definitely be mannered especially with women such as Desdemona and would be respectful and honest. He would have to act crazy and wild in the scene where Cassio is tricked by Iago to drink a lot so he can make a fool out of himself. He would be very emotional when he is revoked of his rank in the army. By the time the end of the play comes, Cassio is wounded, but was able to succeed over Iago and attains the highest position. This is exactly what iago wanted, but was unable to achieve it because he wasn’t honest and genuine like Cassio. Tom Hiddleston would have to definitely play Cassio as a humble, honest and sincere man throughout the entire play so the audience can understand the theme of my production: that corruption and greed never win, but that honesty is the best policy.
Barbantio • I think Robin Williams would be a good actor for Barbantio. Barbantio is a very strong, protective father and Robin Williams has played a lot of characters like that in movies. He also has a wise, fatherly look about him, which is perfect for Barbantio. Barbantio cares a lot for his daughter and I think Robin Williams would be able to portray him successfully. He would be dressed in comfortable pajamas, since in the only scene he plays in he is awoken from sleep. He would laugh and mock Iago and Roderigo as they tell him about Desdemona running away. He will feel confident and haughty at the point, trying to prove them wrong. Once he realizes that it is true, his face will drop in surprise and he will show through his lines anger, frustration, and distrust because of his daughter. He will say his lines frantically and panic trying to figure out what happened. Once he accuses Othello, he will talk to him with rage and have no mercy for him. He will reluctantly consent to their marriage after hearing both sides, but will not be able to be consoled after the fact.
Emilia • I would make Emilia's character Emilia Fox, not just because they have the same name, but because she has played the role of many intense and dramatic characters. She has also had experience in working with Daniel Craig, who would play Iago. She looks like she can play a rebellious and defiant character, which is important because Emilia in Othello is very in bold and independent. She would have to stress how Emilia’s personality is reflected by the way her husband Iago treats her: like an animal who has to satisfy his every desire. Because of this, Emilia has learned to just live her life and ignore her husband in order to be happy. She would dress elegantly and have an attitude when with her husband. However, she would be kind and sympathetic with Desdemona, since she cares for her in the play. She would talk sarcastically and disrespectfully to Iago , especially when he demeans her. This will show to the audience the tension between the marriage, causing Emilia’s reaction to Iago’s evil scheme in the end as not surprised. This will make it more understandable, and help them to see the contrast between Emilia and Desdemona’s marriages as well.
Roderigo • I would make Roderigo played by Josh Segarra because of his experience in Broadway playing dramatic and emotional characters. Roderigo is a whiny and discontent character in Othello, and I feel that Josh could represent him well since he can play a large range of personalities. He would dress business casual and say his lines complaining all the time. He would not be in a high position in the company, since he is also not in high position in the play. Josh would have to portray Roderigo as a lustful yet unsure guy. When he finds out she gets married to Othello, Josh will have to show how jealous and angry Roderigo gets. This anger blinds him from the fact that Iago manipulates him, and ends up destroying him. He needs to show the audience that Roderigo is gullible and naive as Iago uses him as a pawn to carry out his plan. Roderigo ends up being betrayed and set up in the end by Iago. As Roderigo finds out, he should show that he feels stupid and regrets talking to Iago about his love. Josh needs to emphasize his feeling of regret, so that the audience will remember the theme of my production: that greed doesn’t win in the end.
Montano • KhrisLewin would play Montano, who is Othello’s predecessor as governor. He respects Othello even though he replaced him. Khris has had experience in theater, and would be able to play Montano as a calm, yet assertive man. He is still high in power, so he would have authority over a lot of aspects of the “company” in my production. He would be the type of person who would try to solve everyone’s problems and be in control, since he is so used to being like that in his old position. He would dress in nice suits and always say his lines with authority. In his fight with Cassio, he would definitely have to emphasize the power struggle they have at the time, so the audience can see the attitude that is damaging and infiltrating the company because of Iago. It causes distrust and betrayal in the end among the employees. This will help the audience to see how Iago’s plan starts to develop and see that this event marks only the beginning.
Act 1, Scene 1 • This is the beginning of the play, so it would open with Iago and Roderigo walking around the neighborhood, on a brisk night. Iago has just told Roderigo that Othello and Desdemona have secretly married. They are walking towards Barbantio’s house to tell him the news. (her father) Roderigo is angry and sad because he was in love with Desdemona, but she wasn’t. He says depressed as they walk, (opening line of the play) “Tush! Never tell me. I take it much unkindly/That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse/As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this,” and kicks a rock. As they talk, Iago reveals to Roderigo angrily that he hates Othello, even though he works for him. The reason for his anger is that the promotion he worked so hard for was given to Cassio instead of him. Iago tells him that they should come up with a plan to break up their marriage. As the approach the house, Roderigo becomes very nervous. They run up to Barbantio’s door and scream “Thieves!” over and over while banging on the door. Barbantio sticks his head out of the window, surprised, and yells a them to shut up. Iago and roderigo tell him about Desdemona and Othello. Barbantio laughs at first, telling them to go home. They tell him to check for himself Desdemona’s bed to see if she is there sleeping soundly. He checks and then runs out in to the street in his pajamas, dialing his cell phone. He goes in to panic mode yelling that his daughter is gone. He knew the two were pretty close at work, but he had no idea about their relationship, which they kept secret. He is told by Iago the address of the motel they are staying in and goes in his car to find them. Iago tells him he will meet him there, and Roderigo leaves the scene, still furious and muttering to himself. Barbantio enters the motel room without knocking and starts yelling and accusing Othello who is asleep with Desdemona. He then is interrupted by a text from the president of the company about an emergency meeting, which Othello receives as well. Barbantio keeps on yelling at him for a while, and Desdemona tries to calm him down. Eventually, Barbantio makes them get in the car and drags them to the meeting, which is miles a way. The scene ends with them speeding on the highway.
Act 1, Scene 3 • In this scene, I would have the founder of the company call an emergency meeting and invite all the heads of the board to it. The meeting would be about another competition company planning to take theirs over. However, Othello doesn’t show up and neither does Barbantio, because he was sleeping and suddenly informed that his daughter ran away to marry Othello. Barbantio enters wheezing to catch his breath and tells everyone what happened, gnashing his teeth and shaking his head. The president frowns and asks Othello if this is true. He tells him passionately that it is, turning towards his wife as he talks about her. This makes Barbantio even angrier. He says that Othello must have bribed his daughter to marry him. Othello defends himself and tells how Barbantio always used to invite him to dinner with his family. Desdemona would always enjoy listening to his stories about how he executing business in the company and would ask to hear more privately. They fell in love, and he relates how Desdemona was the one who suggested marriage. Barbantio glances at his daughter and gives her a dirty look since he still disapproves. The president then says with a smirk, “I think this tale would win my daughter too”, and asks Desdemona how she feels about the marriage. As she looks at her father, Desdemona says with tears in her eyes, “My noble father,/I do perceive here a divided duty./To you I am bound for life and education. /My life and education both do learn me/How to respect you. You are the lord of duty. /I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband./And so much duty as my mother showed/To you, preferring you before her father,/So much I challenge that I may profess/Due to the Moor my lord.” Barbantio stares at the floor in shame. The president then moves on and tells Othello that he needs him to be a representative of the company and travel to Canada with some of his employees as a business trip. He wants him to persuade their competition to forget their plan to take over this company or come to a compromise. Othello hesitates, but hen agrees and asks permission to bring his wife along. Desdemona begs with the president, who finally allows it so as to prevent tension between her and her father if she stayed. Othello and Desdemona kiss and then exit happily as the scene ends.
Act 2, Scene 3 • The scene opens with Othello sending an e-mail from his laptop to all the employers that came with him on the business trip an invite to a party at his hotel room. It would be a celebration of the success with the competition company and, of course, his marriage to Desdemona. He tells Cassio that he can’t drink too much so that he could keep the party under control, and Cassio agrees. A bunch of people arrive at the party, and everyone’s having a good time. Iago meets with Roderigo and tells him his plan of getting Cassio so drunk ,that he will make a fool of himself in front of everyone. He tells Roderigo (who is drunk) to provoke him once he does get him drunk, so he makes a scene. He hopes that Othello will come out of the room he’s in with Desdemona and fire Cassio. This way, Iago will get his job. Swaying and laughing, Roderigo agrees, and Iago walks towards Cassio by the bar who is devoted to his job of overseeing the party. He starts messing with him, trying to make Cassio believe that Desdemona is a temptress. He then persuades Cassio to drink more, since he has never become drunk before. Cassio refuses at first, but reluctantly gives in, saying warily, “I’ll do it; but it dislikes me.” He starts chugging shots with other drunk guys who egg him on. After a while, he walks out of the room assuring everybody he’s not drunk. Iago then tells Montano that he’s worried about Cassio and his drinking “habits” affecting his work, even though he’s a wonderful worker. Iago and Montano continue to converse about Cassio’s responsibility, as Roderigo re-enters the room and Iago points him in the direction of Cassio. He starts trash talking Cassio and eventually they start fist fighting. Montano gets up and tries to break it up. As he does, Cassio pins him down and starts punching him with everybody watching in horror. As Montano screams, Othello runs out of his room, seeing Montano with a black eye and blood all over him. They call an ambulance for him, and Othello glares at everyone and asks what happened. Iago and Cassio start stuttering saying they don’t remember how the fight started. At first Iago says he doesn’t want to tell on Cassio, emphasizing the fact that he was chasing after Roderigo (to whom Iago does not refer by name) when the fight between Cassio and Montano began, and suggesting that the unknown man must have done something to upset Cassio. Othello praises Iago for being a kind friend trying to cover up for Cassio. Desdemona comes in sleepy and asks what happened. Othello tells her to go back to bed and not to worry about it. Othello the announces in front of everyone that Cassio is fired and that he needs to go home.
Cassio walks out of the room angrily slamming the door. Iago walks out to go see Cassio and calm him down. He knocks on the door and tells Cassio that he should appeal to Desdemona and ask her to plea to Othello on his behalf. Cassio disagrees at first, saying its wimpy, but Iago eventually persuades him to at least think about it. He pats him on the back and tells him he’s sorry (ironic) and walks out of the room. He leaves Cassio sitting on his bed and the faint sounds of ambulance sirens gradually getting louder and louder ends the scene as Cassio puts his head in his hands.
Act 3, Scene 3 • Everyone has returned to work, except Cassio. He comes back anyways to talk to Desdemona to see if she can get him his job back. He tells him who genuinely sorry he is, practically begging on his knees. He would say his lines with emotion and really nag her until she finally agrees, saying, “I give thee thy warrant of thy place: assure thee/ If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it.” Cassio thanks her and hugs her. As he walks away, Iago catches his eye and gives him a thumbs up. Meanwhile, Dedemona goes to Othello’s office immediately and asks him about Cassio. He tells her he had no choice to fire him because that’s the office policy, while thumbing through a bunch of files. She persists and he replies, exasperated, that he will think about it. She leaves after kissing him on the cheek, and Iago enters. He starts peppering Othello with questions about the reason why Desdemona is taking Cassio’s side all of a sudden. He hints that Cassio isn’t as honest as he thinks and that him and Desdemona have a romantic thing going on. Othello tells him angrily to leave him alone because he’s busy with work. Iago stands up telling him that all he’s saying is to watch his wife when she is around Cassio, leaving him in the background to think. Desdemona enters with Emilia saying if he wants her to wrap his head in the white handkerchief he specially gave her with the red strawberries. She asks him to reminisce in the memories of their love and how their love will continue, so he will stop being angry. He smiles slightly and tells them that they should just go to lunch because he’s hungry. As they leave, Desdemona accidently drops the handkerchief. Iago (not Emilia) re-enters, looking for Othello. The handkerchief catches his eye, and he picks it up slowly, smiling evilly and chuckling to himself. Later, he brings it to Othello’s office and slams it onto his desk as if to say “Isn’t this proof enough?” Othello stares at but says it can’t be, Desdemona just dropped it. He does seem to be worried, but he tells Iago that he won’t believe him unless he brings better physical evidence. Iago tells him that Cassio has called him before in the middle of the night, meaning to call Desdemona , leaving obscene messages for her and saying that he misses her. This makes Othello’s face to drop and become red. He shouts “I will not believe it!” and dismisses Iago. In the middle of the night, however, Othello drives to Iago’s house saying how he can’t sleep after the information he revealed to him about his wife. He says that he is restless and going crazy and goes on a rant about how he loves her but feels like their love has faded for some reason. He drops to his knees and starts crying. He quickly gets up, vowing that he is going to get revenge on them both and starts calling his wife names while punching the couch pillow. Iago tries to comfort him and Othello eventually pulls himself together and tells Iago that since he’s been so supportive, that he is promoted to Cassio’s job. The scene ends with the camera zooming in on Iago’s face with that famous evil smile, thinking about what to do next to get his way.
Act 5, Scene 2 • Othello leaves Iago’s with a plan on how to get revenge through murder. He goes to back to sleep .Turning on a lamp, Othello leans over and looks at his wife as she sleeps. He is in deep thought , debating whether he should kill Desdemona or not. He is talking to himself kissing her over and over, so he wakes her up. Desdemona asks what is wrong with him, and he starts getting angry, accusing her of infidelity. Desdemona is confused, saying she has no idea what he is talking about, making him even more frustrated. He tells everything he’s learned: her, Cassio, and the handkerchief. She denies everything, close to tears because she is scared for her life. He starts trying to suffocate her as she begs, “O, banish me ,my lord, but kill me not!” He persists and the door bell rings suddenly. Othello pays no attention, and continues. Emilia enters, gasping for breath saying she heard screaming and came in to see what was happening. She tells him she came in a hurry because Iago has told her that Roderigo was shot after getting in a fight with Cassio outside a club, but Cassio was just wounded. She asks why he is in front of Desdemona covered in the blanket. She exclaims as she sees Desdemona’s limp body, “O, who hath done this deed?” Othello confesses, bursting with guilt and regret. He tells her what her husband has told her and how he believed it all. Emilia snorts and says softly, “My husband...”as she shakes her head. Montano, Iago, and other men from work burst inside the room saying that they heard about Roderigo and wanted to tell Othello right away. They see Othello crying on the floor, clawing at the rug and punching himself. They all look confused at the scene. Emilia glares at her husband saying, with a low, raspy voice “My mistress here lies murder’d in her bed..” Everyone becomes solemn, except Iago who looks at his wife with a look as if to stay quiet. As she relates the reason for this murder and confesses that Iago planned the whole thing, Othello gets even more upset, and Iago becomes angrier with her, telling her to shut up. As Iago keeps telling her to shut up, she says her lines with more and more force and power. Montano tells Othello that he will be revoked his privileges and tells the other men that it is time to leave so they can visit Cassio in the hospital to tell him that he will need to take over the company. As for Iago, they call the police and lock him in the closet until they arrive. Othello takes one last long, gazing look at his wife and kisses her passionately saying, “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this/Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.”He then opens the patio doors and throws himself over the railing into the street. The scene ends with one of the business men telling Iago “O Spartan dog,/ More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea,/Look on the tragic loading of this bed./This is thy work. The object poisons sight,/ Let it be hid.—Gratiano, keep the house/And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,/For they succeed on you.—To you, lord governor/Remains the censure of this hellish villain:/The time, the place, the torture. Oh, enforce it!/Myself will straight aboard, and to the state/ This heavy act with heavy heart relate.” It starts to rain as he looks out the window at the city saying the last line, as police sirens become louder and louder.
