The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 12.2822  Wednesday, 12 December 2001

From:           Janet OKeefe <
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Date:           Tuesday, 11 Dec 2001 15:22:03 -0800
Subject: 12.2814 Modern Othello on Masterpiece Theatre
Comment:        Re: SHK 12.2814 Modern Othello on Masterpiece Theatre

> Here's what WGBH lists for their Current Season Masterpiece Theatre
> <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/index.html>
>
> "Othello   TV 14, L, S, V
> Monday, January 28, 2002
> A twenty-first century rendition, written by Andrew Davies (Take a Girl
> Like You, Wives and Daughters) and based on the tragedy by William
> Shakespeare.  Othello has all the sex, corruption, and betrayal of the
> original, translated to a completely convincing modern setting -- New
> Scotland Yard in the era of race riots, neo-Nazis, and political spin."

I saw the second half of this a couple months ago when it aired on the
CBC.  The performances were all quite good.  The actor playing Othello
was particularly powerful.   I would class it more as a film inspired by
Othello rather than a production of the play.  One of the more startling
scenes for me and which has no parallel in the play, was a scene of
Othello cracking up on a live television program and attacking the
racism inherent in the nation.  They also worked hard to give Iago more
real, understandable reasons than he has in the play.  Overall I would
recommend it.

Janet T. O'Keefe

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