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Kabuki Othello

"Superbly poetic...magically mixes Elizabethan warmth with haiku-like clarity...hypnotically beautiful, emotionally dizzying."

Chicago Sun-Times

  • Full Length Play
  • Drama
  • 105 minutes

  • Target Audience: Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13), Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
  • Set Requirements: Area Staging

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, College Theatre / Student, High School/Secondary
Kabuki Othello is a lyric (haiku-like) rendition of Shakespeare's story, Eastern style.

Othello, an Ainu (Caucasian native) war hero in Japan; Iago, Othello's officer and husband to Emilia; and Cassio, playboy officer who idolizes Othello, all revolve around the delicate, sure-minded Desdemona, who captures Othello's heart.

Emilia prepares the bride, and a wedding night dance makes Iago, who lusts for Desdemona, burn. So all four "roll together" on a wheel of fate when Iago, who loathes Cassio, manipulates all his "puppets" -- luring drunken Cassio into a comic brawl that angers Othello and dangling Desdemona's love gift from Othello (a precious fan woven by his mother) with half-heard innuendos that convince Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are lovers.

Tortured mad, Othello is transformed into a demon of jealousy. When Desdemona is "tried" for infidelity, Emilia realizes Iago's treachery and tries to reveal it, but Iago stabs her. A chorus of Koken guide Othello in his sad deed -- stopping Desdemona's breath by winding her lengthening hair about her throat. When it is done, Othello stands as "the ghost that is alive." 

REVIEWS:

"Superbly poetic... magically mixes Elizabethan warmth with haiku-like clarity... hypnotically beautiful, emotionally dizzying."

Chicago Sun-Times

"A visual and aural stunner."

Variety

"A feast for the senses."

Philadelphia Daily News

"Mesmerizing, riveting... achieves a momentum that is amazing in its ferocity."

The Mercury, Philadelphia

  • Casting: 8M or F
  • Casting Attributes: Flexible casting, Expandable casting
  • Casting Notes: 8 to 18+ actors of either gender.

Name Price
Kabuki Othello Script Order Now

Kabuki Othello is a lyric (haiku-like) rendition of Shakespearees story, Eastern style. Othello, an Ainu (Caucasian native) war hero in Japan; Iago, Othelloes officer and husband to Emilia; and Cassio, playboy officer who idolizes Othello, all revolve around the delicate, sure-minded Desdemona, who captures Othelloes heart. Emilia prepares the bride, and a wedding night dance makes Iago, who lusts for Desdemona, burn. So all four eroll togethere on a wheel of fate when Iago, who loathes Cassio, manipulates all his epuppetseeluring drunken Cassio into a comic brawl that angers Othello and dangling Desdemonaes love gift from Othello (a precious fan woven by his mother) with half-heard innuendos that convince Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are lovers. Tortured mad, Othello is transformed into a demon of jealousy. When Desdemona is etriede for infidelity, Emilia realizes Iagoes treachery and tries to reveal it, but Iago stabs her. A chorus of Koken guide Othello in his sad deedestopping Desdemonaes breath by winding her lengthening hair about her throat. When it is done, Othello stands as ethe ghost that is alive.e Area staging. Approximate running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes.

$19.95