
A FREET LIVE D IVE-IN THEATRICAL EVENT 2020-2021 SEASON JULY 24 I 25 I 26 I 30 I 31 + AUG 1 I 7:30 PM AFOOK-CHINEN CIVIC AUDITORIUM PARKING LOT Director’s Notes Often referred to by scholars as the bard’s “most perfect” tragedy, Othello isn’t just a beautifully construct- ed tragic arc. The tragedy is heightened as we watch the hero falter—and eventually fall—so far from what could have been. The man at the very center of this tragic web had everything: true love, power, respect. It is precisely because fortune smiled so generously upon Othello de- spite his being a Moor—a foreigner, an “other,” seen as undeserving by many of the Venetians around him—that he must fall. Inevitably. Inexorably. It’s always a good time to revisit the intricate and beauti- ful themes in Othello, but we’re living through a cultural moment when more and more people are starting to see the threads of profound injustice and inequality that are woven into our country for people of color. Xenophobia is nothing new, but it is louder than ever. It is important that we remember and honor this through the timeless lens of Shakespeare’s words. Mahalo, Sarah Elliott Hilo Community Players PRESENT OTHELLO Written by William Shakespeare Directed by Sarah Elliott Hilo Community Players Board Members President - Dr. Rachel Klein Vice-President - Karen Moore Treasurer - Erin McClure Secretary - Autumn Miyares-Thompson Board Members at Large Roberta Brashear-Kaufers Sarah Elliott Jennifer Brahms Gardham Nicole Gour John Kooistra Glenn Lagman Ray Ryan Jeffrey North Wilson Hilo Community Players is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, enrich, and inspire the Big Island community through quality theatrical productions, workshops, and activities for children, teens, and adults. Catch more of our 43rd annual Shakespeare in the Park Festival ONLINE, Premiering August 1st! UPCOMING EVENTS: Shakespeare in the Park would not be possible without the ongoing support of EHCC's in-house keiki art program art camQs, workshops, & more! Check us p8t at www.ehcc.org/yas EAST HAWAl'I CULTURAL CENTER ONLINE PHOTO EXHIBITION EHCC invites the statewide commuity to submi Open call to all Hawal'I (state) reside No entry fee Photos should Illuminate some aspect of llfe Hawal'I under current conditions There Is no deadline to enter Scene Summary Act 1 Scene 1: Roderigo, who has been courting Desdemona, is devastated to hear that she has eloped with Othello, the Moorish general in the service of Venice. Iago, Oth- ello’s aide, assures Roderigo that he also hates the Moor because Othello denied him a promotion that went to Cassio. Hoping to thwart the happy couple, lago and Roderigo awaken Desdemona’s father Brabantio to inform him of the elopement and her absence. Act 1 Scene 2: lago tells Othello of Brabantio’s anger as Cassio arrives with word that the general has been summoned by the Duke to a council of war. When Brabantio hears that he has also been summoned, the angry father plans to accuse Othello of bewitching or kidnapping his daughter in front of the Duke. Act 1 Scene 3: The Duke of Venice and Senator Lodovico receive news of an immi- nent Turkish attack on the Venetian island of Cyprus. Othello and Brabantio arrive and Brabantio makes his accusation. Othello replies that Desdemona fell in love with him over the course of many visits to Brabantio’s house and that she has married him of her own free will. When she is summoned, she confirms her love and devotion to her new husband. Brabantio concedes, and the meeting resumes as Othello is ordered to leave for Cyprus. Desdemona is to live there with him, and lago is to escort her in a later ship. Privately, lago assures Roderigo that Desdemona will soon repent marriage to a Moor, and that if Roderigo will come to Cyprus he will continue to help him with his suit by delivering presents to Desdemona. Roderigo agrees and leaves; lago reflects on how easy it is to get money from this fool. Saying that Othello is rumored to have cuckolded him, he goes on to plot revenge upon both Othello and Cassio; he will make the general believe that Cassio is the lover of his new wife. Act 2 Scene 1: In Cyprus, the Venetian governor Montano greets Cassio, who tells him that a great storm separated his ship from Othello’s. Desdemona arrives with lago, Iago’s wife Emilia, and Roderigo. Soon after, Othello arrives and greets Desdemona with affection before the group moves indoors, leaving lago and Roderigo behind. lago pro- poses a plot: he says that Desdemona is in love with Cassio and proposes that Roderigo pick a fight with the lieutenant while he commands the guard that night, in the hopes that fighting on duty will disgrace Cassio and remove him as potential competition for Desdemona. Roderigo agrees. Alone, lago meditates on the course of his plans: he will torment Othello with the notion that Desdemona is being unfaithful with Cassio, earn- ing the general’s trust and credit while making him sick with jealousy. Act 2 Scene 3: Despite Cassio’s insistence that a little wine will make him very drunk, lago convinces him to drink a little more to celebrate their victory. Cassio, Iago, and Montano enjoy wine (and female company) until Cassio is quite drunk. lago sends Rod- erigo to go provoke Cassio, who takes the bait and injures Roderigo and Montano. Oth- ello is woken by the noise and angrily dismisses Cassio as his lieutenant. lago convinces Cassio that his only hope of recovering his position is to get Desdemona to present his case to Othello. Cassio agrees and leaves, and lago exults in the success of his scheme: now Othello will witness—and jealously misconstrue—Desdemona’s interest in Cassio. Act 3 Scene 1: lago sends Emilia to Cassio and she assures him that Desdemona favors his cause and agrees to take him where he may meet with the general’s wife. Act 3 Scene 3: Desdemona assures Cassio she will plead his case to Othello. Cassio retreats as Othello and lago approach, which Iago pretends to regard suspiciously. Desdemona asks Othello to take Cassio back, and he agrees, saying that he loves her and can deny her nothing. She leaves, and lago begins to ask seemingly innocent questions about Cassio. He pretends to be reluctant to express his suspicion, but goes on to inflame Othello with the idea of a sexual affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Othello tries to dismiss the idea, but it begins to work on him. Desdemona and Emilia arrive and Othello disguises his distress. As they head inside, Desdemona leaves behind a prized handkerchief that was Othello’s first gift. Emilia picks it up, and lago takes it from her as she leaves. He states his intention to plant it on Cassio. Othello returns and angrily demands proof of Desdemona’s infidelity. lago asserts that Cassio has Desdemo- na’s handkerchief. Enraged, Othello goes on his knees to formally swear vengeance, and lago affirms his loyalty and joins him in the oath, promising to kill Cassio himself and to help Othello kill Desdemona. 15 Minute INTERMISSION Act 3 Scene 4: Desdemona tries to plead Cassio’s case, but Othello demands his hand- kerchief. Desdemona denies that it is lost. She tries to change the subject back to Cassio, and Othello leaves in a rage. lago and Cassio appear; Desdemona remarks on Othello’s strange anger, and lago volunteers to go see the general. Emilia observes that Othello may be jealous of his wife, even though he has no reason, and Desdemona decides she must approach him again. The women leave as Cassio’s lover Bianca appears. She humorously chastises Cassio for not seeing her more often and he asks her to make him a copy of the embroidered handkerchief he has found. Act 4 Scene 1: lago says that Cassio has admitted to sleeping with Desdemona. Beside himself with rage, Othello has a panic attack. Cassio appears, and lago tells him he has important news for him and to come back when Othello’s gone. Cassio leaves, and Iago tells Othello that if he eavesdrops on the meeting he has arranged with Cassio, the general will hear Cassio speak of his affair with Desdemona. When Cassio returns, lago talks loudly about Desdemona, then quietly introduces the subject of Bianca. With amused disrespect, Cassio laughs about how she presumes to think she’ll marry him while Othello listens and gets angrier. Bianca arrives with the handkerchief, which she now believes was given to Cassio by another woman. Othello now thinks that Cassio has given Desdemona’s love token to a harlot. Desdemona appears with Lodovico, who brings a message from Venice calling Othello back and placing Cassio in command of Cyprus. When Desdemona is pleased, Othello misconstrues Desdemona’s excitement to return to Venice as happiness for Cassio’s good fortune. before quietly killing Roderigo. Bianca arrives. lago declares that she is probably in- volved in the attempted murder and charges her to go with them. Act 4 Scene 2: Othello questions Emilia, who says there is no reason to suspect Des- demona and Cassio are having an affair. He summons Desdemona and angrily accuses her of vague misconduct. When he leaves, Desdemona tells Emilia to fetch lago, and the two try to reassure her. Desdemona and Emilia leave as Roderigo arrives, complaining that lago has taken his money and jewels and hasn’t fulfilled his promises.
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