THEATRE 
REVIEWS
Othello
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Leeds
ENGLAND
Trust no one
if you want Shakespeare presented to you in a way you can understand then Northern Broadsides is the theatre company for you, but do not expect much more than that. This production of Othello gives you the story and leads you through to the conclusion in their usual style.
Conrad Nelson dupes Lenny Henry
We have Lago, superbly played by Conrad Nelson, bringing out the scheming character who must surely get his just desserts in the end. He is servant to his master Othello, played by Lenny Henry, big in stature, small in character, trying to make sense of what is going on around him and trying not to believe everything he is told, which allows him to survive until the end of the dirty deeds. His wife Desdemona, played by Jessica Harris is more united with the twenty first century than the Edwardian period when the play is set. The rest of the cast work hard and make the plot flow along with their understanding of their characters and make for intrigue and mischief.
Barry Rutter directs and brings the whole thing to life with his understanding of what is desired by the audience. The set is touring company quality and the costumes are from an age many years beyond when the play was written, which made the use of swords awkward. A drinking song somehow makes its way into the script and was appreciated by the audience. The Photographs by Nobby Clark were splendid and captured the director’s vision.
The theatre was showing signs of the recession with standby tickets withdrawn, polystyrene mugs for coffee, and the smell of stale food from open food cabinets in the public area. Where has the live music in the intervals gone?, and with a music school next door to the theatre.
So what did the audience think? One comment was there will not be many encores tonight. That said the audience sat quietly and took in what was offered to them and gave applause when the hard working cast took their bows. You know what you are going to get from Northern Broadsides, so if it is your thing make the effort to see this production if it comes your way. BA ©
“Othello” is at the West Yorkshire Playhouse Leeds on the 14th February until the 14th March, 2009. Ask about ticket price concessions for students and pensioners. Council car parking charge was free from 5.30pm until 10pm, unless it is suspended.
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