Shakespeare's 'Othello' falls to Iago's evil

CEDAR CITY — Of the six shows on the Utah Shakespearean Festival’s slate this year, Shakespeare’s "Othello" is one of the best. It’s a dark tragedy filled with strong performances, and it has a villain, Iago, you’ll love to hate.

Iago (James Newcomb) is ensign to Othello (Jonathan Earl Peck), a moor. Iago’s position puts him on the most intimate terms with Othello. But Othello, the general of the Venetian army, has just passed him over for promotion, and Iago’s jealousy races to the fore. His utmost goal becomes the ruination of Othello. He begins by revealing Othello’s secret marriage to Desdemona (Lindsey Wochley) to the girl’s father, Brabantio (Will Zarhn) a senator who hates Othello.

Blind to Iago’s anger and disappointment, Othello continues to show great trust in "honest" Iago, and when Brabantio, sends Othello off, "to solve the problem with Cypress," Desdemona is bound to follow him. Othello entrusts Desdemona to Iago and his wife, Emilia (Corliss Preston), who is devoted to Desdemona and unaware of Iago’s plans for Othello’s destruction.

We saw Newcomb last year in a flawless turn as "Coriolanus." He is equally intense as Iago, seemingly at the loyal service of Othello, but planning all the time to strike at Othello’s relationship with Desdemona. Iago’s attacks are very personal. When he discovers that Cassio (Justin Matthew Gordon) a lieutenant to Othello and the man Iago was passed over for has eyes for Desdemona, Iago goes about acquiring a specific handkerchief Othello has given Desdemona. Ruthless as he is, Iago uses Emilia to steal the handkerchief, which has tragic consequences later.

Desdemona, Iago, and Emilia arrive at Cypress before Othello because of a storm at sea. Iago then claims Desdemona is involved in an affair with Cassio.

Jealous as Iago is, he spawns even greater jealousy among others. It is his major emotional weapon of choice and he takes advantage of Othello’s seeming unrelenting faith in him.

When a fight breaks out between Roderigo (Danny Camiel), who is a bit of a dupe, and Cassio, who has been coaxed to drunkenness by Iago, Iago claims to know nothing about it.

Othello is an example of Shakespeare’s classic tragic character – someone who is good, but has one tragic flaw that brings him down. It doesn’t take long for his overwhelming trust in Iago to begin what will be Othello’s downfall.

When Cassio is blamed for the fight, Iago counsels him to go to Desdemona for help. When Desdemona tries to intercede with Othello on behalf of Cassio, the jealousy Iago has planted rears its ugly head. Instead of compassion, Othello responds by stripping Cassio of his command and promoting Iago, who has played them all like a vicious chess master.

Fostering even more jealousy, Iago begins to convince Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are lovers.

Peck plays Othello’s rising jealousy utterly believably. What Iago has planted in Othello is nothing less than poison.

Iago, still determined to bring Othello down, plants the stolen handkerchief on Cassio and tells Othello Desdemona gave it to Cassio.

Prompted to rage, Othello’s passion comes to a head one night in Desdemona’s bedchamber. Although he has not given her a chance to defend herself, Othello smothers her with a pillow. When Othello tries to explain himself to Emilia, she discovers why Iago had her steal the handkerchief, and she kills herself.

Iago, acting the innocent, claims to know nothing about Emilia’s story. Finally, Othello has Iago arrested.

But there is nothing left for Othello, "who has loved not wisely, but well," and he kills himself.

Lindsey Wochley is a lovely, naive Desdemona, whose love for Othello is boundless. She observes the madness going on around Othello, but is in no position to place blame. Desdemona is not strong enough to go to battle with Iago, and Wochley plays her as demure and a little confused. As the madness grows she becomes frightened and cannot reason with Othello.

Peck’s Othello shows a rage that grows to an explosion. He cannot see the evil Iago has wrought until it’s too late. He’s already killed Desdemona.

Newcomb’s Iago is the very basest of evil. He manipulates people, then stands by innocently while madness takes over. He is apparently unaffected by Emilia’s suicide, and only objects when he is arrested for what he has done.

Gordon’s Cassio knows he is being played. Even after he tells Iago he can’t drink, he allows himself to become drunk. Cassio is not strong enough to repel Iago, and once drunk, he can’t control himself.

Shakespeare is teaching us a lesson here, and that lesson has been played out throughout history. One manipulative, evil man can bring down madness, not only upon those immediately around him, but upon everyone.