OTHELLO LITE

Adrian Korpel

art:Allposters.com 

Okay people, let's get started, we have a lot to do. First, thank you for coming early; I know how difficult that is. We've all got our regular jobs, we're tired, and nobody pays us for this; we're not professional actors. So, again, thanks for being here on time. 

   Now this is the situation: two months from now we're doing Othello, and we haven't even read the script yet. So let me give you a synopsis. Othello, a Moor and a Venetian general, is married to Desdemona, the daughter of a Senator. Iago, one of his officers, has been passed over for promotion in favor of Cassio and is hell bent on revenge. He makes Othello believe that his wife is having an affair with Cassio. A lot of complicated stuff happens, and in the end Othello kills Desdemona. In fact, he smothers her with a pillow. Then he finds out the truth, is sorry, and kills himself. 

   As you'll notice, this is pretty heavy stuff, and I think we have to lighten it up a little. Let me tell you why I think that. Half a year ago we did Hamlet, and from a dramatic point of view it was a disaster. We all know that. Art Johnson, who is no longer with us, turned Hamlet into a stand-op comedian. At the soliloquy people started to giggle already and by the time Art came to "Alas poor Yorrick ...," they were rolling in the aisles. 

   I realize that Art wasn't the best actor in the world; in fact, with all due respect, he was pretty lousy. But that's not the point. The point is that people laughed; we got more laughs than when we did 'Blithe Spirit'. So I've been thinking, 'why not do it again with Othello?' But this time, let's go all out, make it into a real comedy. 

   Now, how do we do this? Until the final death scene, things shouldn't be too difficult, I figure. True, Iago is a nasty, chilling character, but we can tone him down a bit, make him more into a buffoon, sort of. Maybe dress him in baggy pants or something. As for Othello, we make him stutter, for example. An enraged, jealous stutterer is always good for a laugh. The real difficulty, as I see it, is the death scene when Desdemona is smothered with a pillow. Offhand, there's not much humor in that, so we've got change it. 

   Here's what I have in mind. Othello approaches Desdemona with the pillow, and the audience expects the worst. People are hiding their faces in their hands. But then comes he surprise: Othello starts a pillow fight, and he and his wife have a merry romp on the bed, feathers flying and everything. End of performance. Well what do you all say? Is that a great play or what?