Othello (Dramatized)

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ewan McGregor, Kelly Reilly

Length: 2 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

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

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.

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

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.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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.

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.

Lacks subtlety

The actors are all accomplished, especially Ewan MacGregor, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kelly Reilly, but too often the direction lacks subtlety and the text is shouted. This gets monotonous and makes it hard to follow and believe the play.

As close to what Shakespeare Invisioned himself.

Loved it but really hurt to see the web of lies spun up by Iago.

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.

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!

Great into ready for further study.

Fab way to understand the story and start to understand the language used. Very well done thoroughly recommend.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Missed out a couple of lines but still great!

The dramatization was impeccable! I loved it! There are a few lines cut out here and there that shouldn't be in my opinion, as every line is important to the literary intention of the writer, and few if not any more so than Shakespeare. Despite this, these omitted lines did not inhibit my understanding of the tragedy in any shape or form.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

fabulous play

Studying this play a for university module. I absolutely loved it, the story, the performance.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great

Studying for school, would massively recommend as a way to learn the play and look at different interpretations.

fantastic assessable dramatisation

i listened to this as i followed the text over a few days. also read and listened to some commentary and analysis from other sources. this brought the Shakespearean play to life for me. well worth the effort

Wow

Would you consider the audio edition of Othello (Dramatized) to be better than the print version?

Nah. Just more convenient. Can play the videogames at the same time, or listen with my eyes closed and chillaxin.

What did you like best about this story?

So far ahead of it's time i don't even.

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

The usual mouthwords.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Othello unchained, by Quentin Tarantino:

In a world,

where people take an extremely long time to say things:

"For, sir,
It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor I would not be Iago.
In following him, I follow but myself.
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so for my particular end.
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In complement extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at. I am not what I am."

One man kills his waifu.

Any additional comments?

An old black ram is tupping your white ewe.

5 of 10 people found this review helpful