Casting and rehearsal for Othello 4.1.1-98

This is a short intense subscene featuring the two leads, Othello (65 lines) and Desdemona (24 lines), and one small part, Emilia,'s (11lines), to be taken by the director. Othello, "The Moor of Venice," is a heroic African general employed by the Venetians in their battle against the Turks. Desdemona, the beautiful caucasian daughter of a Venetian senator, has eloped with him against her father's wishes and has joined him at a besieged fortress in Cyprus. Iago, Othello's trusted lieutenant, has succeeded in falsely convincing his boss that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio, a handsome captain. In this passage, the enraged husband accuses his innocent and uncomprehending wife of being a whore.

The three people presenting this scene during the class of January 26 should get together now to read over their lines and make sure they understand each one. You might also want to read and watch the whole play soon. The library has videos of two performances I recommend, that directed by Jonathan Miller (the BBC version starring a young Anthony Hopkins) and that directed by Oliver Parker, starring Lawrence Fishburn. The library also has a splendid operatic version on film directed by Franco Zeffirelli and starring Placido Domingo.