363. My top five Shakespeare plays: number 3
Eek! Two more entries after this and I will have reached nirvana! Wait, that’s not how these things work?
…oh.
Oh well. Number three!
NUMBER 3: Othello
It’s not just because Emilia was chosen as my number-one Shakespearean badass, but that doesn’t hurt the cause. The way the play explores the idea of insecurity in even the most secure relationships in a terrifying way – I mean, Othello and Desdemona practically worship each other, but a few words and misunderstood gestures and a misplaced handkerchief is all it takes for Othello to murder her. The manipulation employed by Iago in this play is absolutely masterful, and it is always interesting to explore his motivations, relationships to the others in the play, and why he is so infuriatingly scary and wonderful at the same time. It’s hard not to root for him, to be honest, when you consider how effortlessly his work takes effect. Shivers. For all its complexity and horrific relationship commentary, Othello takes the number three slot.
This is one I came to rather late on – loved playing with a scene from it though, as I got to play Iago: fantastic manipulation, as you say.
Ooh, that Shakespeare fellow, he’s really rather good, isn’t he?!
discoverfineacting
January 5, 2011 at 6:13 PM