Although Shakespeare wrote “Othello” more the 400 years ago, the story addresses issues that are relevant today: racism, social status, interracial relationships, the power of jealousy and envy, the experience of being different from those around you, how best to respond to mistreatment, the corrosiveness of insinuation and gossip, domestic violence and the desire for revenge.
The Hawaii Theatre Young Actors Ensemble is bringing the story to life this weekend in an imaginative production that includes aerial performances, choreographed dance and fight scenes, and original taiko “soundscapes” composed by Kenny Endo.“This is going to be an incredible visual production. It’s going to be, I think, a stunning production,” Eden-Lee Murray, education director of the Hawaii Theatre Center, said last weekend. “Frank Coffee stars as Othello, and he is ready for this challenge.” Murray also recommends keeping an eye on Nick Browne (Iago) and Cassie Caldwell (the Clown), who is the cast’s aerial specialist.
“She’s either on the (aerial) silks or she’s in fairly elevated places pulling things onstage or pushing things offstage — she drives the play.”
>> Name of play: “Othello”
>> Run dates: 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday
>> Where: Hawaii Theatre, 1130 Bethel St.
>> Admission: $5 (students of any age with photo student ID), $7 (seniors/military/HTC members) and $10 (adult)
>> Length of play: 1 hour, 45 minutes
>> Intermission: No
>> Age recommendation: Suitable for 12 and older
>> What it’s about: A scheming villain targets a rising star for destruction. Misplaced jealousy leads to murder and regret.
>> Morals and messages: Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear. They smile in your face, but all the time they want to take your place. People who feel unappreciated or disrespected by people they work with might take revenge in terrible ways.
>> Parental advisory: Contains adult themes, explicit domestic violence and a murder/suicide in slow motion.
>> Kid-pleaser aspects: Aerial choreography, taiko drumming and a shadow-play battle between two puppet boats on poles representing the Turkish and the Venetian fleets.
>> Hawaii Theatre education director says: “One of the joys of working with Shakespeare is the huge latitude for interpretation and innovation — as long the text is served and the story told as clearly as possible,” Eden-Lee Murray says. “With our ‘Othello,’ we explore the role of Storyteller as an agent of fate and/or predestination. The kids are going full tilt. They’ve taken ownership, and I am thrilled with the work they are doing.”
>> For more info: 528-0506 or hawaiitheatre.com
