Service journalism is the new black. Yes it is.

There’s always a danger with Shakespeare in particular for the director to want to make it different; to show fresh insight into characters and events. I imagine the lack of stage direction and the over interpretation of Shakespeare over the years prove irresistible. So I’m wondering what Declan Donnellan felt drawn to emphasize in the Cheek by Jowl production of Othello currently at BAM, because whatever it was I just couldn’t get with it. It was all over the place. I mean, yeah, I love the whole “we’re all on stage in life’s whirligig” angle, it kept it fast paced and the production down to three hours and fifteen minutes, which is all good when you have to rush back to Manhattan to meet your dealer in Pianos. But the characters were bipolar and just not credible, except maybe Iago, who I am assuming was loosely based on the cartoon germs you see in kitchen cleaner commercials, with his nasally speech impediment and hyperventilation. I pitied the Americans in the audience, even more than usual, as I had a hard time understanding anything he said. Oh note to Ben Brantley at NYT – that was NOT a working class accent, you twat, the character was just dressed unkempt and unshaved. He was a hipster with a voice as annoying as the sound of Desdemona’s heels on the stage. Actually, when I think about it, I think it was Welsh, so I might give you that one back, our Ben. No hard feelings, huh?

Hipster himself Declan Donnellan shows us a neat Cassio puking on stage scene and Bianca as an S&M dominatrix. Oooo racy. Othello on the other hand was such a waste. Nonso Anozie is so physically magnificent and his voice so magisterial, but we see him flip-flop [ha!] to a teetering wreck with impotently outstretched flailing arms. To and fro – where’s the in-between? Where’s the ache? Where’s the manifestation of his loss? It needs to be more than a very unconvincing epileptic fit. Not that I’ve actually SEEN an epileptic fit, mind, but you know. When Iago tells Othello to strangle his wife, Othello’s reaction was so piss poor that the audience actually laughed. And Desdemona. She was such a pain in the arse schizo I wanted to kill her myself. Screeching around the stage and then pretending it never happened. And she wasn’t even coked up at the time. Also Decco, I think you should have made Emilia a drunk. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.

If you want to see some decent Shakespeare go and check out Richard III at the Public.

I have't;--it is engender'd:--hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.

No shit Shakespeare. Now go and tell Declan Donnellan.