Director’s Note
The first time I read “Othello”, I was struck by the use of opposites in the language. Black/white, heaven/hell, devil/angel, dark/fair. This led me to think of film noir. Noir is a dialectic of light versus dark. The dark represents a darker side of human nature. Noir is a world of alienation and doom. It’s dark and somber, with extensive use of light and shadow to illustrate the hidden world beneath the text. All of these things led me to the concept that you see before you on the stage. Noir characters are alienated, duplicitous, manipulative and obsessed. In terms of the play, it features two obsessive men and the woman they destroy. Jealousy and betrayal of trust figure largely in the plot, furthered by a protagonist and antagonist whose passion and fixation alienate them from the values and shaky stability of the world they inhabit. So all the hallmarks of classic noir make their appearance: sexual obsession, jealousy, faithlessness, manipulation and murder. All combine to form the plot of “Othello” and the most common thematic concern of noir: the inescapability of one’s dark side. We all have one, whether it’s Walter White, Hannibal Lecter, Charles Manson—well, perhaps not that extreme, but Shakespeare shows us that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.
Shakespeare’s brilliance lies in making us confront our own experiences. We can’t help but compare ourselves to his characters and their situations, and wonder what we would do in their place. We identify with his characters. Who hasn’t felt alone, alienated, or betrayed? All of these motifs, themes and a hell of a good story—along with an exploration of the nature of evil as shown by Iago-- led me to directing the “Othello” you’re about to see. I have been unbelievably blessed to have a cast and crew who shared my vision and my passion, and invested their time and energy into giving everything they have. There are so many to thank: Kelly Maedo, KEOS radio, David Watson and Cynthia Christner, Michael Hood and the College of Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania, the North Fulton Drama Club in Atlanta, Russell Jones, Tam Jackson, Eileen Peters, Larry Boozer, Jennifer Hargis and Robert Carter. I owe all of them a huge debt and am grateful to them for giving of their time and expertise and helping me out of many a jam. I’m grateful to you, too, for supporting StageCenter (and community theatre in general). Enjoy.
