Othello's love for his beautiful wife Desdemona is doomed by his lethal jealousy, treacherously stoked by the malignant Iago. This great tragedy confronts the mystery at the heart of evil and contains some of Shakespeare's most magnificent dramatic verse.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From AudioFile
One of Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies, OTHELLO has been brought to stage and screen countless times. This recording, part of Arkangel's usually solid series of the Bard's plays, adds little to this history of performances. Don Warrington in the title role is awkwardly un-Moorish, though David Threlfall is more convincing as the villainous Iago - cold and calculating without any exaggerated fiendishness. Some of the minor characters shine also (particularly the Clown, who appears in just two scenes), but the music, often a highlight of Arkangel recordings, is unfortunately cloying and improbable in this production, adding another minor disappointment. D.B. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, and his birth is traditionally celebrated on April 23. The facts of his life, known from surviving documents, are sparse. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a merchant of some standing in his community. William probably went to the King's New School in Stratford, but he had no university education. In November 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, who was pregnant with their first child, Susanna. She was born on May 26, 1583. Twins, a boy, Hamnet ( who would die at age eleven), and a girl, Judith, were born in 1585. By 1592 Shakespeare had gone to London working as an actor and already known as a playwright. A rival dramatist, Robert Greene, referred to him as "an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers." Shakespeare became a principal shareholder and playwright of the successful acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later under James I, called the King's Men). In 1599 the Lord Chamberlain's Men built and occupied the Globe Theater in Southwark near the Thames River. Here many of Shakespeare's plays were performed by the most famous actors of his time, including Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Robert Armin. In addition to his 37 plays, Shakespeare had a hand in others, including Sir Thomas More and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and he wrote poems, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. His 154 sonnets were published, probably without his authorization, in 1609. In 1611 or 1612 he gave up his lodgings in London and devoted more and more time to retirement in Stratford, though he continued writing such plays as The Tempest and Henry VII until about 1613. He died on April 23 1616, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. No collected edition of his plays was published during his life-time, but in 1623 two members of his acting company, John Heminges and Henry Condell, put together the great collection now called the First Folio.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific for understanding the play,
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This review is from: Othello (Arkangel Shakespeare) (Audio CD)
As a high school English teacher I struggle with students' bad attitudes toward Shakespeare. Forget reading it aloud! They have no idea what they are saying, and it is painful for all of us. And having them read it on their own is a joke, as they will stop after a page because they can't understand what they are reading.
This unabridged, dramatized reading of Othello is a perfect solution for anyone who wants to read and understand Shakespeare in his original vernacular without reading some kind of "updated" version. The characters are distinct, the pace exciting, and the included music really sets the scene. You could just listen to the CD, but if you're not familiar with the story or you have trouble with Shakespeare, I would follow along with a text as well. And of course, listen to it more than once because you will pick up new ideas or images each time--I know I do! I have purchased this product twice (once on tape and once on CD). I would love to have a whole Shakespeare set of these!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Laughably Bad!,
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This review is from: Othello (Arkangel Shakespeare) (Audio CD)
First, I'll own up: I haven't heard this reading of "Othello" to the end, though I've tried to do so twice. I've been forced to abandon the endeavour because I simply can't bear the way the play is being destroyed by atrocious performances in the two major roles. David Threlfall as Iago simply butchers the lines; it's almost as if he's trying to sabotage the part. It's possible that he's intent on making the lines sound "naturalistic" and "modern" so he skates over his lines in a Yorkshire accent with no effort to elucidate their meaning, making the occasional emphasis of a word here and there in a seemingly random way. He clearly doesn't understand what he's saying. One out of many examples: in lines 43/4 of Act One, Scene One: he races over the words, "We cannot all be masters, nor all masters/Cannot be truly followed" by emphasizing the word, "followed" rather than "truly"! And this is typical: when he singles out a word, it is invariably the wrong one.
And if Threlfall is execrable, Don Warrington as Othello is atrocious. Perhaps drawing the tenor of his performance from Othello's description of himself as "rude am I in my speech", Warrington reads his lines with an almost complete absence of expression! To hear him read speeches such as the "Her father loved me; oft invited me;/Still question'd me the story of my life" as though he's reciting "The cat sat on the mat" would be comical if it were a parody. However, this is an ostensibly serious offering! How the director let these actors get away with these performances is a mystery; surely he couldn't be so deaf to the meaning of the words as to give these desecrations the thumbs-up. The supporting roles are generally better played but then these can only slightly mollify the dismal impression made by the two main parts. Truly of "Guiness Record Book" proportions for sheer awfulness.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful Dramatization,
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This review is from: Othello (Arkangel Shakespeare) (Audio CD)
I love listening to British dramatizations of literary works! The Archangel Casts rendition of Shakespeare's "Othello" is extremely well done. Shakespeare's original text is read in a vibrant fashion, complete with sound effects and music. The themes of jealousy, revenge, racism, and deception are clearly evident.
The primise of this play concerns a Moorish general in the Venetian army who is in love with a Senator's daughter, Desdemona. The couple marry, much to the anger and chagrin of Desdemona's father, Brabantio. Before the couple can consummate their marriage, Othello is sent to Cypress in order to defend the island from Turkish invaders. Desdemona pleads to be allowed to accompany him, and is granted permission. She will follow her husband in the company of Iago, Othello's "ensign," or servant, who has his own agenda. Iago is bitterly angry with Othello for promoting an officer named Cassio to the rank of Lieutenant when Iago feels he is the one who deserves the job. Iago also believes that Othello slept with his own wife, Emilia. Resolving to be avenged, the psychopathically evil and manipulative ensign concocts a diabolical plan to convence Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. What follows is a psychological drama in which Othello wrestles with doubts and confusion as he tries to learn the truth and ultimately descends into madness. Move over soap operas! The cast in this dramatization is excellent. David Threlfall is unsurpassable as Iago. His soft, seductive voice, (almost reminiscent of melting chocolate), simultaneously throbs with pretended concern and demonic joy. His soliluquies will chill you as you listen to his remorseless tones crescendo into jeering laughter. Anne Marie Duff is wonderful as Desdemona, providing the listener with a portrayal of innocence and heartbreaking sadness and fear. A special note needs to be made for Clive Swift who portrays Brabantio so well. Swift portrayed Richard on "Keeping Up Appearances," and I enjoyed listening to him in a serious role. My only complaint about this production is Don Warrington who plays Othello. His accent is very thick, and it might help you to have a text of the play in front of you when he is speaking. This is the only reason I gave this dramatization four stars, but please do not let this put you off. The production is excellently done and should be listened to. Please give it a chance.
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