Othello

Starring: Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, Molly Osborne, Andrew Burnap, Anthony Michael Lopez, Daniel Pearce, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Julee Cerda, Neal Bledsoe, Ezra Knight
Directed by: Kenny Leon
Written by: William Shakespeare
Genre: Drama, Tragedy
2025

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: The scheming Iago (Jake Gyllenhaal) is determined to bring down his superior officer, Othello (Denzel Washington) by any means necessary.

Review:

Tim: I recently had the opportunity to watch this play on Broadway, and truly, I haven't quite come to terms with this yet. I was able to travel to New York City, visit the Ethel Barrymore theater, and watch Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal act opposite each other in a Shakespearean play. I mean, I'm still trying to let that sink this. This is one of the greatest experiences of my life- absolutely the best theater-going experience I've ever had. But, to see two of my all-time favorite actors speaking the words written by the greatest playwright in human history, 400+ years after he wrote them. I'm shaking my head right now, in wondrous disbelief.

I have to start with the actors. Denzel Washington has long been one of my absolute favorite actors. He's one of the best actors of his generation. I got to see him step into the role of Othello and act brilliantly on stage. Washington brings both stoicism and his trademark energy to this role. It's interesting, it comes shortly after his stunning portrayal as the titular character in the film, The Tragedy of Macbeth. He's crushing Shakespeare in his latter years. He makes a wonderful Othello- he's strong, noble. That makes things all the worse when he's manipulated into tragic, unforgettable acts. The final scene, he plays so amazingly well. I don't think I'll ever forget the vividness of his performance.

As much as I love Washington, I have to admit, I was blown away by Gyllenhaal. He's quietly emerged as perhaps my favorite actor of that next generation. He can do everything, and he puts that all on display here. Gyllenhaal's turn as Iago is the finest acting I've ever seen in person. He's explosive, carries so much of the play, and has the audience riveted. His timing was impeccable- some of the best moments were when he was scheming to the audience, filled with anger and fury, and then as another actor steps onto the stage, he spins and totally transforms his demeanor and tone to address them. It's beyond mesmerizing to watch him in this role. I loved everything he did on stage. He was spectacular. The greatest joy is getting to see Gyllenhaal and Washington acting together, in a Shakespearean play. These two terrific actors played beautifully off each other- they were truly dynamic. It feels like such an immense pleasure to have seen them both on stage, together.

The rest of the cast was solid. I didn't love Molly Osburne as Desdemona, but she did have some brilliant sequences. Andrew Burnap had some standout moments as Cassio. Anthony Michael Lopez made for an effective Roderigo. I liked seeing Ezra Knight here, too.

The play itself was good, but it didn't quite live up to the heights of its two leads. Kenny Leon did a nice job, but I didn't love all of the creative choices. The play is updated with modern dress, and it's all a little confusing about who these soldiers are and what they're doing. The American flags on their uniforms are a signal, but I never quite fully understood what the scenario was supposed to be. The stage design felt pretty bare- it's mostly just moving columns and a square that serves as table, bed, etc. I didn't think this was atrocious- there's some nods to the original Shakespeare by keeping the stage to a minimalist design. But, it's not like anyone would be wowed by the visuals here. The play did make multiple cuts to the original Shakespeare, which I think was worthwhile. There's still a lot here, even cutting dialogue and characters.

All of this feels secondary, to be honest. I got to see Washington as Othello and Gyllenhaal as Iago bring to life William Shakespeare's Othello on Broadway. My goodness, that is an experience I cherish and I'll never, ever forget. I'd love to have a theatrical experience in the future that surpasses this one, but I'm not sure how realistic that is. This very well might be the pinnacle for me.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



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