Othello (Dramatized)

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ewan McGregor, Kelly Reilly

Shakespeare's Othello is one of his finest and most famous tragedies. This highly acclaimed performance, which ran between November 2007 and February 2008 at the Donmar Warehouse in London, features Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Moor Othello, Ewan McGregor as the scheming Iago, and Kelly Reilly as the gentle Desdemona. This recording features music written specifically for the stage production which enjoyed huge success - each performance was a sell-out.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2008 Naxos Audiobooks (P)2008 Naxos Audiobooks

Star studded cast delivers

This was a star-studded cast and a full staged production. You can tell from the performance how well the craft of acting was done a service by their performance.

Excellent

I turned this on during a solo road trip expecting to be mildly entertained -- but I ended up listening to it all in one sitting without pausing. It's so well acted. The voices are clear and the actors are great. 10/10.

You will fall in love

This is the way I wish all audio books are and sets the bar very high. Amazing performance, great listen, better than watching a movie.

Excellent Production!

This is a fantastic production of Othello! Very good opportunity to revisit a classic play.

Things to Consider (also some spoilers)

I knew the main plot points of Othello, but had neither seen nor read it. This performance was so compelling, I couldn’t stop listening despite the fact that Iago is a vicious character. I recommend that you give this performance a listen and think about some things:

1. Why does Iago hate Othello so much? It is just because Othello is black?

2. There are three main women characters and they are all called “whore” throughout the performance. Is Shakespeare sexist or making a commentary?

3. Why is Othello so quick to believe that Desdamona had sex with Cassio? Is it connected to his internalized racism?

4. Why does everyone implicitly trust Iago? Sure, he keeps telling everyone that he is trustworthy, but other than that, he seems to be full of bologna.

Remarks on Othello

Chiwetel Edjifor sustained the accent of Othello as an African national speaking English without condescension, yet with remarkable range of nobility and human feeling we expect from the character. He and the cast deserve high praise for this memorable and faithful rendering.

Excellent adaptation - wonderful cast!

What did you love best about Othello (Dramatized)?

The performances were all excellent I thought! As always, choices are made about what to cut out, but it was done well.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I'm not sure in this era of audiobooks why you would read Shakespeare any other way! I read the plays a lot in my youth, but this play really sings when you hear the lines spoken.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I didn't but I certainly could have.

Any additional comments?

A way to hear many favorite actors on audio.

Wonderful way to experience the play!

Loved it! A wonderful way to experience a top rate cast that includes among others Ewan MacGregor as Iago and a pre-Thor Tom Hiddleston as Cassio! The only reason I didn't give it five stars overall is because it doesn't include the bonus CD with cast and creative team interviews that came with the original CD recording. But it does come with a really neat PDF with pictures and information about the production!

Goats and Monkeys!

According to an article I read on the live performance of this play in London, some critics gave Ejiofor positive reviews while McGregor and Reilly did not fare as well. Whip me such foolish critics! Others there are who recognize McGregor's rendition of Honest Iago as nearly flawless; who can see that he pulls off the relentlessly ruminative diabolical genius with precision. And such a one do I profess myself. I've listened to many audible dramatizations of Shakespeare, and this one is probably the best.

Exceptional Version

The dramatization not only helps you visualize the action, but sure to the excellent actors, the pacing, pausing, annunciation etc, all make this Shakespeare work so easy to follow and understand.