Othello at Synetic Theater

Othello

Synetic Theater
1800 S. Bell Street Arlington

The machinations of Iago are as labyrinthine and dark as the struggles of his mind, and these are all made manifest in Othello. The rapid ascent of the powerful Othello and his love affair with the beautiful Desdemona is thrilling to watch, but it literally fractures the jealous Iago. Themes of love, jealousy, race and perception are explored through the use of onstage projections, a shifting geometric set, and the swirling choreography and physical expression of Synetic’s performers and creators. Othello represents a bold new step in the evolution of the silent theater for which Synetic has become acclaimed.

Thru - Nov 6, 2011

Price: $45-$55

Show Type: Drama

Running Time: 1 hour,30 mins with no intermission

www.synetictheater.org

Othello Reviews

Average Rating based on 7 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Washington City Paper - Recommended

"... Synetic Theater’s Othello, warmly praised in these pages when it was first presented last year, takes wicked Iago’s duplicity one degree further—like Eve, he’s got three faces, with Alex Mills, Irina Tsikurishvili, and Philip Fletcher being charming and seductive and ruthless by turns. Over at the Folger Theatre, meanwhile, director Roger Richmond pushes the action to the 13th century and makes the title character a sort of Venetian superhero —a (literally) caped crusader with a winking, nudging joker of an Iago out to trip him up."

- Trey Graham

Washingtonian - Recommended

"...Thanks to the three actors embodying him, Iago is everywhere at once, whispering treachery in one character’s ear while placing a dagger in the hand of another. With this kind of force working against Othello, this production drives home the terrible inevitability of his fate."

- Missy Frederick

BrightestYoungThings - Highly Recommended

"... The cadence of the brilliantly-imagined choreography uses gestures and symbolism to guide the audience through the storyline. As a result, you think and process the play to the drum of paranoia and jealousy in Othello's brain. You always sensed there might be a psychological thriller buried in the elegant fog of Othello's language, but never guessed that once unleashed it would take your breath away."

- Ali Goldstein

Washington Blade - Recommended

"... Instead of one of Iago, Synetic has opted to go with three. They’re united when the primary Iago played by a maniacally gleeful Philip Fletcher (who is gay) pulls his two alter egos (Synetic vets Alex Mills and Irina Tsikurishvili) through a Mylar mirror. At times the potent trio overpowers the production’s Othello (Roger Payano), but never for too long. The talented and well built Payano definitely holds his own among a strong cast. In fact, it was Payano who first inspired Synetic to mount “Othello” when it premiered last season."

- Patrick Folliard

ShowBizRadio - Recommended

"... Synetic’s take on the central character of its piece, the villain Iago, also follows the triangular theme of the physical production, itself perhaps a reference to the love/hate triangle of Othello,Desdemona, and Iago. Played simultaneously by three performers (Phillip Fletcher, Irina Tsikurishvili, and Alex Mills), Iago has much in him of the mythical trickster, working his evil as if by magic. The other characters’ fatal trust in Iago’s honesty, so important in the Shakespeare play, is deemphasized in this concept."

- Bob Ashby

MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended

"...In a setting worthy of covert ops, roving Iago paparazzi with video cameras surreptitiously collect images of Desdemona (played by the enchanting Salma Shaw) with Othello and Bianca cavorting with Cassio. They edit the film, splicing the lovers into alternate relationships, inferring a reverse love affair between Cassio and Desdemona, and fueling Othello’s murderous rage. With hand-held video projectors the evil crew splashes the dream-like images across the stage – allowing us into the nether reaches of Othello’s tortured mind as he hallucinates the lovers’ illicit tryst."

- Jordan Wright

DCTheatreScene - Recommended

Synetic stamps its signature on one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies, the story of the doomed Moor, Othello, stirred by deceit, consumed by obsession and finally propelled to murder the one he loves.

- Roy Maurer