Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 6, No. 0535. Thursday, 6 July 1995.
From: Robert Appelbaum <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Wednesday, 5 Jul 1995 22:29:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Othello
So now it's official, according to today's paper. Branaugh is Iago, for 11
million dollars, and Fishburne is Othello, probably for less.
I have not had the opportunity to see many performances of *Othello*, but I
have seen performances where the part of Othello was played strongly, and
performances where Iago was given a strong performance. And I don't think I
have ever seen a performance where Othello and Iago were played equally
strongly. Is that normal? Is this play one person's story or another's, but
not both's? Is that a director's decision, or an accident of talent? Can two
equally strong actors and the right director remedy the problem? Or is my own
limited experience creating a problem where none really exists?
I'd like to hear from some real theatergoers (and actors and directors) about
this.
--Robert Appelbaum