ED2015 4/5 Reviews ED2015 Theatre Reviews

Othello – An All Female Production (Smooth Faced Gentlemen)

By Megan Wallace | Published on Saturday 22 August 2015

Slick, polished and dynamic, Smooth Faced Gentlemen’s ‘Othello’ brings a new dimension to one of Shakespeare’s finest tragedies. While race is generally considered to be the main theme of ‘Othello,’ another important aspect of the play is gender – Desdemona is punished for being a strong woman by the patriarchal forces, represented by Iago, and is broken until she fits into a more passive mould. Having an all-female cast questions the concrete and opposing values which society often attaches to men and women, suggesting a more subtle and fluid definition of gender. More generally, the cast gel beautifully and really bring to the fore the Shakespearian humour, which can become lost in certain adaptations.

Underbelly Potterrow, until 31 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Megan Wallace]