Othello: the Moor of Venice Reviews

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...But it’s also got the graceful, deliberate, and hugely compelling Callie Johnson as Othello’s doomed wife, Desdemona. She’s the kind of actor whose persuasive force draws everyone onstage into her orbit, a fact director Charles Askenaizer exploits to great clarifying effect, particularly during the nearly three-hour production’s final hour, which falls increasingly on her shoulders. The show’s actual climax is worth the wait."

Edge - Highly Recommended

"...Staged in Heartland Studio Theatre's intimate black box, Askenaizer and his cast capture the rowdy, bloodthirsty, often-toxic environment of an active military camp, beginning with Kevin Rolf's Scenic Design. Necessarily simple, Rolf masks the upstage wall with a heavy canvas tent, creating two entrances."

Irish American News - Somewhat Recommended

"...To the credit of this company, they are passionate and committed to remain faithful to the text. However, it was an uneven performance. Some of the characters, chiefly the women, are stronger actors than their male counterparts. There are still some areas of this production that need to be ironed out. Some of the actors have not fully become the characters they inhabit. Their speeches appear well rehearsed but not fully integrated into their role. There is still a conscious awareness of watching a play instead of becoming involved and immersed into the action of the play. I imagine that more the play runs, the stronger the show will become. "