Meghann Baker, Contributing Writer

For staging an all-female production of the classic tragedy, Othello, the Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company and the theater at Boston Court prove that female actors playing male characters can still provide the tension, violence and terrifying passion this play is famous for. 

There are only three women in Shakespeare’s Othello. Jealousy, lust, greed, war and male ego are key to the plot, so it is exciting that an all-female company would choose to take it on. The Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company has been tackling Shakespeare’s plays since 1993. Besides Othello, they have produced many classics including Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice and Richard III. While watching this production of Othello, it is easy to forget the women playing men are actually women. This is an amazing feat, considering the rarity of gender-switching in American theatre.

Lisa Wolpe, director of LASWC, co-stars as Iago in this production of Othello.  She comes across as a handsome and mischievous scoundrel.  The likability she brings to one of Shakespeare’s most famous villains makes the audience simultaneously love him for his honesty and hate him for his cruelty – both makings of a truly great villain.

Fran Bennet brings a dignity to Othello that command respect and makes watching the character’s descent into madness heartbreaking.

Othello is a black general in a predominantly white army, and has earned both his title and the respect of his racist counterparts by being a man of uncompromising principles.  Upon his promotion, Othello named his best friend Cassio (Kimberleigh Aaru), as his second-in-command, and Iago as third in rank.

The story begins with Iago and another man, Roderigo, waking one of the town’s senators to tell him his daughter Desdemona (Nell Geisslinge), has secretly married Othello. The senator is furious and demands Othello be taken before the Duke.  From this point on, Iago systematically plans to destroy Othello’s life while appearing to be his faithful servant.
Othello gradually falls apart over the course of the play, becoming prey to Iago’s superior intellect and manipulative brilliance.

Throughout this Othello, Wolpe’s masterful use of action to portray parts of the story that may not be clear by simply listening to the actors makes this play a fun ride.  Othello is a thriller, so it is essential that one not miss out on the action along the way.  Shakespeare is notoriously hard to follow but this production adds short action sequences such as two characters dancing on a veranda in a loving embrace, and a sexy gypsy entertaining the troupes in order to bring to life what is happening in the script.  This makes Wolpe’s Othello both accessible and entertaining to a casual theatre-goer.

The wonderful use of visuals and the fine performances, Othello follows through as a wonderful night at the theater.