The History of Othello Shaneé Sullivan

In Breif  A.K.A. The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice  Based on a Italian short story: Un Captiano Moro (A Moorish Captain)  Centered around four themes: love, jelousy, racism, and betrayal

Performance History  Has not been a decade when Othello was not staged (except during the time of commonwealth)  First known performances of Othello was in 1604 in WhiteHall for King James VI (Richard Burbage as Othello)  Other performances include royal performances in honor of King James VI’s daughter in 1613 and many performances in the Globe, Blackfriars Theatre and at the Hampton Court from

Performance History  Commonwealth collapse (1660) Charles II reopened theatres  Charles II a royal warrant stating that only women should play the parts of women; that year Margaret Huges (Desdemona) and this prologue was written for the occasion: “ I saw the lady dressed. The woman plays today: mistake me not; No man in gown, or page in petticoat; A woman to my knowledge, yet I can't (If I should die) make affidavit on't.' “ I saw the lady dressed. The woman plays today: mistake me not; No man in gown, or page in petticoat; A woman to my knowledge, yet I can't (If I should die) make affidavit on't.'

Edits  In the 1700’s Othello was molded to fit the style and expectations of the period (offensive speeches were removed from the play)  In the 18 th century, Othello’s character was molded to fit traditional hero standards (lines were cut from the play to mask Othello’s rougher character flaws) Desdemona and Cassio in bed Desdemona and Cassio in bed Othello’s Epileptic Fit Othello’s Epileptic Fit Lines from the Willows Song Lines from the Willows Song

Character History  Othello Richard Burbage- First to play Othello Richard Burbage- First to play Othello Edmund Kean- Normally played Iago Edmund Kean- Normally played Iago Ira Aldridge- first black actor to play Othello in England Ira Aldridge- first black actor to play Othello in England Paul Robeson- first black actor to play Othello in USA Paul Robeson- first black actor to play Othello in USA Henry Irving and Edwin Booth- alternated roles of Othello/ Iago Henry Irving and Edwin Booth- alternated roles of Othello/ Iago Orson Welles Orson Welles James Earl Jones James Earl Jones Patrick Stewart- portrayed the Moor as a white man and other characters were black actors Patrick Stewart- portrayed the Moor as a white man and other characters were black actors Lawrence Fishburne Lawrence Fishburne Lawrence Fishburne Lawrence Fishburne

Othello in Different Genres  Opera Gioacchino Rossini- No handkerchief, Iago was a reject admirer Gioacchino Rossini- No handkerchief, Iago was a reject admirer Giuseppe Verdi's- closer to Shakespeare’s text, cut from 3500 lines to 800 lines, left out act 1 Giuseppe Verdi's- closer to Shakespeare’s text, cut from 3500 lines to 800 lines, left out act 1  Film Orson Welles (1952) Orson Welles (1952) "O“ "O“ "O“ Othello (1995) Othello (1995)  Television Othello (PBS) Othello (PBS) Sanford and Son Sanford and Son Sanford and Son Sanford and Son  Ballet José Limón- The Moor's Pavane (1949) José Limón- The Moor's Pavane (1949)José Limón- The Moor's Pavane (1949)José Limón- The Moor's Pavane (1949) John Neumeier- Othello (1985) John Neumeier- Othello (1985)

Fun with Othello  Othello Rap Othello Rap Othello Rap

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