Othello
Choreographed by Lar Lubovitch
Music by Elliot Goldenthal
Chicago Philharmonic conducted by Scott Speck
Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy. (map)
thru May 5 | tickets: $31-$152 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
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Beautifully dark retelling
Joffrey Ballet Chicago presents
Othello
Review by Lauren Whalen
“It was just a stupid scarf!” I heard an audience member remark after Othello. She’s right: in some ways, the mayhem started with a piece of fabric, and all issues could have been cleared with a simple, honest conversation. At the same time, she touched on what makes Othello such a universal story, and a popular one. (CST extended its run of Othello: The Remix, and it’s not just because of the hip-hop.) Who hasn’t experienced love, jealousy, betrayal, or all of the above? The core of Othello is its base emotions – and thanks to gloriously haunting music, flawless choreography and the magnificent Joffrey dancers, Lar Lubovitch’s ballet rendition of Shakespeare’s tragedy is not to be missed.
When I first saw this Othello in 2009, I wondered how exactly it would work. Iago manipulates Othello with words, and ballet is largely nonverbal. Lubovitch’s genius interpretation conveys the plot points without relying too heavily on pantomime. Act II, when most of the damage is done, is a tarantella: a medieval European dance named for the tarantula spider and outlawed by authorities for reportedly causing insanity. As Bianca leads the citizens of Cyprus – where Othello is now commander – Iago works his ugly magic and Othello grows more and more paranoid, seeing a romance between Cassio and Desdemona that doesn’t exist. It’s beautiful and terrible to watch, and lingered in my mind four years ago when I first saw the ballet, and again this past weekend.
All of Lubovitch’s choreography is just as poetic, from the commedia wedding dance in Act I to the horrifying final coda. Elliot B. Goldenthal’s score (played by Chicago Philharmonic) is positively Shakespearean, with epic percussive highs and unforgettable lows. George Tsypin’s scenery and Wendall K. Harrington’s projection design evolve with the story, from endless light and air to barren darkness.
The principal dancers (supported by Joffrey’s terrific ensemble) create incredible energy and evoke genuine pathos. Rogers’ Cassio is sweetly innocent and good-hearted, and Holden’s always-delightful showmanship takes on a new sensuality. Robins’ Emilia is sympathetic from beginning to end: even as she takes reluctant part in the deception, it’s so clearly because of her blind love for her husband Iago. Adamczyk is the consummate villain, every movement infused with sinister motivation – he doesn’t utter a sound, but I could hear Iago’s evil cackle and the wheels turning in his demented mind. Desdemona is Daly’s role: her tiny stature and perpetually sad face sometimes work against her but are absolutely appropriate for the Moor’s doomed wife. And Calmels gives a tour de force performance. His Othello is physically intimidating, emotionally vulnerable, the portrait of passion and a cautionary tale of following instinct.
Othello is a universal story, and a frightening one. Thankfully, most stories of love, lust and falsification don’t have such a disturbing end, but it’s enough to know they could. Joffrey’s stellar production of Lubovitch’s masterpiece is a must-see for balletomanes and Shakespeare fans alike – and a last chance, as the ballet will be retired from Joffrey’s active repertory after closing. It’s the story of a scarf, and everything tied up in it. Go.
Rating: ★★★½
Othello continues through May 5th at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress (map), with performances Thursdays/Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays 2pm and 7:30pm, Sundays 2pm. Tickets are $31-$152, and are available by phone (800.982.2787) or online at Ticketmaster.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at Joffrey.org. (Running time: 2 hours, includes two intermissions)
 
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Photos by Herbert Migdoll and Sean Williams
artists
cast
Note: cast varies according to performance.
Fabrice Calmels (Othello), Matthew Adamczyk (Iago), Aaron Rogers (Cassio), April Daly (Desdemona), Valerie Robin (Emilia), Anastacia Holden (Bianca)
Venetian Dancers: Erica Lynette Edwards, Amber Neumann, Kara Zimmerman, John Mark Giragosian, Lucas Segovia
Ensemble: Yoshihisa Arai, Guillaume Basso, Ogulcan Borova, Raul Casasola, Cara Marie Gary, Elizabeth Hansen, Jaime Hickey, Dara Holmes, Fabio Lo Guidice, Graham Maverick, Caitlin Meighan, Jeraldine Mendoza, Katherine Minor, Jacqueline Moscicke, Alexis Polito, Ricardo Santos, Michael Smith, Jack Thorpe-Baker, Shane Urton, Alberto Velazquez, Mahallia Ward, Jenny Winton, Joanna Wozniak
Children: Sergio Castro Navarro, Lucas Gomez-Doyle, Andrew Gonzalez, Said Landes, Jung Kuczura, Braulio Landeros, Viola Pantuso, Austin Smith, Alex Villasenor
behind the scenes
For Othello:
Lar Lubovitch (Choreographer), Elliot Goldenthal (Music), George Tsypin (Scenery), Ann Hould-Ward (Costumes), Jack Mehler (Lighting), Wendall K. Harrington (Projections), Paul Vershbow (Projection Programmer), Ginger Thatcher (Assistant Choreographer), Herbert Migdoll, Sean Williams (photos)
For the Joffrey Ballet:
Ashley C. Wheater (Artistic Director), Kathleen Hechinger (Interim Executive Director), Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino (Founders), Scott Speck (Music Director), Nicolas Blanc and Gerard Charles (Ballet Masters), Graca Sales (Ballet Master/Principal Coach), Willy Shives (Children’s Ballet Master)
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