Boston Common’s ‘Othello’ perfect intro to Shakespeare

Casual passers-by and Shakespeare newbies are applauding the current “Othello” that concludes its 18-performance run on Boston Common this Sunday, August 15. Seasoned fans of the Bard are giving more mixed reviews to the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC)’s 15th annual free outdoor production of this wrenching domestic tragedy about a black general whose marriage to a Venetian noblewoman is destroyed by a white subaltern’s plotting.

 CSC Founding Artistic Director Steven Maler takes one of the dramatist’s easier-to-follow works and makes it even more accessible, especially to younger audiences. He keeps the proceedings brisk, taking fullest advantage of Patrick Lynch’s multi-level set, much like the one Shakespeare himself used. No matter that the scenery seems recycled from previous seasons, the superb lighting by Justin Townsend strikingly focuses attention wherever required.

David Remedios’ excellent sound design and the crisp diction and forceful delivery by the whole cast maximize the chances that these immortal lines will be understood. Maler has apparently instructed the performers to speak loudly and passionately to reach the thousands of nightly audience members, many much further away from the stage than in a typical theater.

So far, so great.  The casting though is more questionable. Maler likes to work with upcoming cable TV stars, who are recognizable to young people. For this year’s title role, he taps an actor familiar for supporting roles in two HBO series: Seth Gilliam, who portrayed Sgt. Ellis Carver on “The Wire” and corrections officer Clayton Hughes on “Oz.”

While no actor in this or any other cast can fully realize the complexities of Shakespeare’s characters, Gilliam, despite a heroic effort, falls short the most. It’s not his fault that he lacks the age, the gravitas, and fish-out-of-water nobility for the part as written. He also regrettably lacks chemistry with Marianna Bassham (Actors’ Shakespeare Project), who is otherwise compelling as Desdemona. Dan Roach (Cassio) and McCaela Donovan  as his mistress Bianca are much more believable as a couple. Even Adrianne Krstansky (Emilia) out-acts him at the play’s climax.

 However, it is James Waterston as Iago (obviously the son of  Law & Order’s Sam and a seasoned Shakespearean actor) who most consistently overshadows Gilliam. Although Waterston goes over the top when interacting with Grayson Powell (Roderigo) and letting the audience know he’s the villain of this piece, Waterston is much more subtle in the scenes when he’s deceiving and tormenting Othello.
So the casting isn’t Royal Shakespeare Company quality. There’s much truth to the response, “Hey, this is free Shakespeare. What do you expect?”

 Therefore, younger folks who have no problem sitting on a blanket for three hours will find CSC’s “Othello” a bracing alternative to “Shakespeare 101.”  Veteran Bard-lovers may want to consider the pros and cons of going just to hear the verse once more and leaving at home memories of other Othello’s they’ve seen that more nearly approach the ideal.

For more information, or to make a contribution to support the work of CSC, visit www.commshakes.org.