Sylvester Little Jr., Billy Chace, and Tess Talbot Photo by Mikki Schaffner

In Shakespeare's time, creating Othello as a Moor–a man of color–identified him as evil. The role was for many years portrayed by an actor wearing blackface, something that is, understandably, no longer acceptable. For Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, director Candice Handy has cast versatile 10-year company veteran Sylvester Little Jr. as Othello. While not played as an imperious military man so often portrayed in productions of the play, Little enlivens him as a man of powerful emotions–love for the beautiful Desdemona (Tess Talbot), fury at military disorder following a brawl instigated by Cassio (Carey Davenport), and aroused to towering, murderous jealousy by the devious Iago (Billy Chace). At one point he is so infuriated by what he is led to believe that he collapses in an epileptic seizure.

Handy's production employs an actor, Montez Jenkins Copeland, at the opening of each act wearing an oversized, white clown costume. In her director's note, Handy explains that (in Act II's danced first moments using a familiar aria from the opera Pagliacci, about a tragic clown), he "dons the iconic 'tears of a clown' white face. She suggests that masks in her staging are used "as imagery to represent disguising one's true feelings, identity, intentions and subconscious biases." While this device is subtle, it adds texture to the troublesome elements of racism and deviousness that flow through Othello, from Iago's first mention of "the Moor," dripping with disdain to his condemnation as "this hellish villain."

Shakespeare gave the memorable character of Iago, a white man driven by intelligence and deceit, several rationales for his hatred of Othello, an ethnic outsider in Venice: envy at being passed over for promotion by an arrogant military man, as well Othello's abrupt marriage to a beautiful young white woman above his station (her father, Brabantio, played with furious anger by Sara Mackie, is a Venetian senator). But the very foundation of Iago's motives is simple villainy.

Actor Billy Chace–best known across his 17 years with Cincy Shakes for comic roles–plays the scoundrel with convincing relish and fiendish sneers. Shakespeare wrote multiple lengthy monologues to explain Iago's desire to ruin Othello; Handy has Chace pacing around and around the entire periphery of the stage, making close, face-to-face contact with audience members seated on all four sides. This makes his fiendish, evil nature all the more immediate and threatening. Not only does Iago warp Othello's perception and mislead other characters, but his cold wickedness can be felt intensively by everyone in attendance, thanks to Chace's performance.

The square set for this Othello, designed by Charlie Calvert and lit with moody precision by Andrew Hungerford, has classic Renaissance elements with two immense partial arches at left and right and an overhead balcony with an ornate balustrade. The central platform with a checkerboard floor pattern (quickly converted into an immense bed for the play's tragic conclusion) is overhung by a rectangular cornice and period lamps.

All the actors in this production are from Cincy Shakes' core company. In addition to Chace and Little, Tess Talbot embodies the glowing, virtuous Desdemona, attired in a white gown (detailed Renaissance period costumes have been crafted by designer Rainy Edwards). Kelly Mengelkoch delivers a strong portrait of Emilia, Desdemona's faithful maid and Iago's misled wife. She is taken in by her husband's charisma, but her devotion to Desdemona comes through when she recognizes the depth of his deception, which has led Othello to murder his new wife.

Carey Davenport plays the virtuous Cassio, promoted over Iago and then victimized when Iago convinces Othello that an affair with Desdemona is happening behind his back. Patrick Earl Phillips is the foolish Roderigo, an asinine and witless suitor of Desdemona whom Iago repeatedly pushes into acts that add to the tale's chaos and cause his own eventual death. Courtney Lucien handles several small roles, most notably, Bianca, a courtesan in love with Cassio, who plays an unwitting part in convincing Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful.

In addition to the fuming Brabantio, Sara Mackie plays several military characters. Grant Niezgodski is the Duke of Venice, who rules that Brabantio has no grounds to challenge his daughter's marriage to Othello: In fact, he chastises the irate father, "Your son-in-law is far more fair than black," an admonition that runs counter to the play's many racist remarks.

Handy's thoughtful direction has underscored how easy it is for deception to undermine virtue, even in today's world. In her director's note she stated, "In such unsettling times, when facts are misconstrued and reality is disillusioned, it is difficult to discover truth." Her production and her solid cast are a somber reminder of how easy it is to foment misunderstanding with tragic consequences.

Othello runs through March 29, 2026, at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH. For tickets and information, please visit cincyshakes.com or call 513-381-2273.