Review Round Up: Othello, Theatre Royal Haymarket
Tom Morris’s latest staging of Shakespeare’s tragedy, featuring David Harewood, Toby Jones, and Caitlin FitzGerald, has drawn a range of critical reactions from major British publications.
The Stage
“David Harewood and Toby Jones star in Tom Morris’ overwrought staging.”
The review suggests that while the acting talent is strong, the direction feels excessive, perhaps overshadowing the core drama.
The Guardian
“Harewood’s Othello holds your attention with his physical presence and imperial quality, the sniffs, smirks and tics in the lead up to his murderously wounded rage. He is so captivating to the other characters that they are frozen as he tells of meeting Desdemona at the start. He woos them, and us.”
The Guardian praises Harewood’s commanding portrayal, emphasizing his charisma and nuance, which mesmerize both audience and characters alike.
The Independent
“David Harewood reprises the titular role in a starry production that grants more power to the play’s women, but ultimately dulls its edge.”
This review recognizes the fresh feminist perspective in Morris’s adaptation, though it notes the result slightly weakens the dramatic intensity.
The Standard
“What we have here is stately West End Shakespeare, well-spoken and measured, directed by Tom Morris and designed by Ti Green in a way that feels curiously adrift from the modern world. The production could have happened in the 1990s, the 1970s, probably the 1950s: even PJ Harvey’s bizarre and sporadic score seems quaint.”
According to The Standard, the show’s classical tone lacks modern resonance, making it feel timeless yet detached from contemporary life.
WhatsOnStage
“But the three central performances, all in their different ways, fail to gel. Harewood’s Othello is impressive in stillness; the moments when he is gazing at Desdemona full of wonder hint beautifully at the depth of feeling he contains.”
WhatsOnStage appreciates Harewood’s quiet emotional depth but criticizes the overall lack of cohesion among the lead performers.
Author’s Summary
Critics find Tom Morris’s Othello both visually rich and emotionally uneven, spotlighting David Harewood’s magnetic presence amid a production divided in tone and cohesion.