theatre review - OTHELLO - Southwest Shakespeare Company - January 15, 2016

Hope Brown and Amanda Renee Baker
Photo by Mark Gluckman

Click here for more information on this production that runs through January 30th.

 "Hatred, jealousy, and deception are at the core of William Shakespeare's Othello. ...Southwest Shakespeare Company's production draws upon the humor within Shakespeare's words to balance the dramatic intrigue and betrayal of the plot. ...exceptional, layered performances from Jesse James Kamps as Iago and Hope Brown as Othello, the end result is a solid production of this tale of murder and mayhem....director Harold Dixon focuses on Shakespeare's words, letting them ring clear from his exceptional cast. ...Hope Brown embodies the range of Othello's emotions quite well. ...Jesse James Kamps is just as good as Iago. He is adept at portraying the constantly plotting and determined deceiver with cunning looks, a wry smile, and a mischievous wink. His deceit shows no limits, ...As their wives, Amanda Renee Baker and Jordan Letson are quite good...While Patrick Walsh's sparse set isn't that scenically exciting, Maci Hosler's costumes and Sasha Wordlaw's hair and make-up designs are vibrant, full of color and a richness that swiftly transports us back to the 17th century setting. Daniel Davisson's lighting and Peter Bish's sound successfully evoke the moods of the play. Othello is a sobering and commanding work...the moving performances and firm direction make Southwest Shakespeare's production as strong, calculated, and forceful as Iago's deceptive plot."  -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)