OTHELLO Previews- Page 8

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 11:04am

Sammy232 said: "Dolly80 said: "Kad said: "These production photos are oddly strange and lifeless. Typically stars have photo approval and their tastes can be somewhat baffling, but these are just... dull."

They perfectly represent this dull, lifeless production then."

Graphic designer here - I think it's very hard to capture any emotion, feeling for the show etc. when there is a bare stage, minimial costuming etc. Take a look at the revivals of Betrayal and Doll's house for comparison. But on top of that, the photographs are just really not great so it just makes for a mess. These are basically useless, but I guess at how their tickets are selling it's not really even necessary since these are primarily shot for advertising purposes."

I think a bare stage and minimal costumes can make for stunning photos—look at the Sunset Boulevard photos. The same photographer took the Almeida photos for Streetcar and they are also amazing.
 

The photographer for this Othello has just consistently been on weaker side: the Gypsy photos were a mess as well, as are Vanya’s American photos (the English ones were beautiful), but I suppose as you said, they can skimp on photo costs when they know their show will sell regardless.
 

Still It’s wild to have photos where you’re not even seeing actor’s eyes or expressions in close ups. I don’t think there’s a single shot where you can *really* see Denzel’s face and that closeup of Jake is one of the worst photos I’ve ever seen of him. 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 11:31am

Sammy232 said: "Dolly80 said: "Kad said: "These production photos are oddly strange and lifeless. Typically stars have photo approval and their tastes can be somewhat baffling, but these are just... dull."

They perfectly represent this dull, lifeless production then."

Graphic designer here - I think it's very hard to capture any emotion, feeling for the show etc. when there is a bare stage, minimial costuming etc. Take a look at the revivals of Betrayal and Doll's house for comparison. But on top of that, the photographs are just really not great so it just makes for a mess. These are basically useless, but I guess at how their tickets are selling it's not really even necessary since these are primarily shot for advertising purposes."

I can't really blame the photographer here. Julieta Cervantes, who took these, is a talented and well-regarded theatre photographer, extremely capable of taking compelling images of performance. There's nothing technically wrong with them- they're just boring and say little about the show. This is squarely a decision on the part of the producers, as they are the ones who ultimately choose which photos to use and how the photos should be directed. Othello is a play with huge emotions- even a lackluster production should have actors showing rage, passion, grief- so it's weird that these photos capture nothing but blank or stern faces (and Washington solely in profile for some reason?).

Again, I think back to Sam Gold's Othello at NYTW. It was also done in modern military dress and with very spartan sets (the theatre was basically turned into a floor-to-ceiling plywood box). But the production photos are very compelling, moody, and emotive.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 11:44am

Jordan: I 100% agree with your assessment.   

 

But yes, Iago is literally a larger role.   But you REALLY felt it here.  

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 12:30pm

From today’s Times newsletter:

”The show gave critics free tickets under the condition that reviews be published after midnight, so the company can enjoy its opening night party without worrying about notices.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/briefing/broadway-ticket-prices.html

[Kad]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 12:40pm

Fordham2015 said: "From today’s Times newsletter:

”The show gave critics free tickets under the condition that reviews be published after midnight, so the company can enjoy its opening night party without worrying about notices.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/briefing/broadway-ticket-prices.html"

Review embargoes are standard practice these days, but... that's certainly a rather loaded way of putting it.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 1:23pm

Denzel and Jake on ''CBS Sunday Morning'': These two had never worked together before ''Othello,'' but in this extended conversation, their joy and respect for each other's performances is such a delight to behold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxkDEohAK5E

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 1:30pm

Wayman_Wong said: "Denzel and Jake on ''CBS Sunday Morning'': These two had never worked together before ''Othello,'' but in this extended conversation, their joy and respect for each other's performances is such a delight to behold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxkDEohAK5E"

I thought Denzel came across as such a jerk in this - the way he got offended by being referred to as a 'Hollywood Actor' like it was some kind of insult. Get over yourself.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 1:37pm

When is the embargo lifted tonight?   Some of the footage I thought was from the also Kenny Leon directed "A Soldier's Play" but with columns. 

[Sammy232]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 2:07pm

Kad said: "Sammy232 said: "Dolly80 said: "Kad said: "These production photos are oddly strange and lifeless. Typically stars have photo approval and their tastes can be somewhat baffling, but these are just... dull."

They perfectly represent this dull, lifeless production then."

Graphic designer here - I think it's very hard to capture any emotion, feeling for the show etc. when there is a bare stage, minimial costuming etc. Take a look at the revivals of Betrayal and Doll's house for comparison. But on top of that, the photographs are just really not great so it just makes for a mess. These are basically useless, but I guess at how their tickets are selling it's not really even necessary since these are primarily shot for advertising purposes."

I can't really blame the photographer here. Julieta Cervantes, who took these, is a talented and well-regarded theatre photographer, extremely capable of taking compelling images of performance. There's nothing technically wrong with them- they're just boring and say little about the show. This is squarely a decision on the part of the producers, as they are the ones who ultimately choose which photos to use and how the photos should be directed. Othello is a play with huge emotions- even a lackluster production should have actors showing rage, passion, grief- so it's weird that these photos capture nothing but blank or stern faces (and Washington solely in profile for some reason?).

Again, I think back to Sam Gold's Othello at NYTW. It was also done in modern military dress and with very spartan sets (the theatre was basically turned into a floor-to-ceiling plywood box). But the production photos are very compelling, moody, and emotive."

Oh I didn't mean to imply that there is anything wrong with the photographer or their technical skills, but she can't create something that's not there. They look boring and that's a reflection of the production.

Why the producers chose these particular shots is a head scratcher.

 

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 2:09pm

CoffeeBreak said: "When is the embargo lifted tonight? Some of the footage I thought was from the also Kenny Leon directed "A Soldier's Play" but with columns."

"Reviews for “Othello” should start rolling out in the wee hours of Monday morning. (The show gave critics free tickets under the condition that reviews be published after midnight, so the company can enjoy its opening night party without worrying about notices.)"

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/briefing/broadway-ticket-prices.html

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 2:39pm

''I thought Denzel came across as such a jerk in this - the way he got offended by being referred to as a 'Hollywood Actor' like it was some kind of insult.''

I could understand why Denzel, now 70, reacted that way because being called a ''Hollywood actor'' usually IS an insult. It implies that someone best-known for film work hasn't had any training onstage or deep love for theater. Let's face it: Denzel IS best-known for his movies. I'm sure lots of people don't know he started in theater. I, for one, saw Denzel's Broadway debut in ''Checkmates'' in 1988. Actually, I have a lotta respect for him: He made a name for himself in Hollywood, but has come back to Broadway to do Shakespeare, Eugene O'Neill, Lorraine Hansberry and August Wilson. Unlike the actors who started in NYC, got some fame in L.A. and then never returned to Broadway. 

Updated On: 3/23/25 at 02:39 PM

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 2:57pm

At least they know they should be worried...

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 3:38pm

Somehow I doubt ''Othello's'' reviews will greatly diminish their grosses or the enthusiasm of their  audiences. I'm assuming the producers set the exorbitant ticket prices, and not the lead actors, and they probably knew they'd be a sitting target for critics. But people will pay to see stars. 

Updated On: 3/23/25 at 03:38 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 4:53pm

Wayman_Wong said: "''I thought Denzel came across as such a jerk in this - the way he got offended by being referred to as a 'Hollywood Actor' like it was some kind of insult.''

I could understand why Denzel, now 70, reacted that way because being called a ''Hollywood actor'' usually IS an insult. It implies that someone best-known for film work hasn't had any training onstage or deep love for theater. Let's face it: Denzel IS best-known for his movies. I'm sure lots of people don't know he started in theater. I, for one, saw Denzel's Broadway debut in ''Checkmates'' in 1988. Actually, I have a lotta respect for him: He made a name for himself in Hollywood, but has come back to Broadway to do Shakespeare, Eugene O'Neill, Lorraine Hansberry and August Wilson. Unlike the actors who started in NYC, got some fame in L.A. and then never returned to Broadway."

 

Totally understand what you are saying but for him to sit there and say he doesn't know what Hollywood is and that he knows "it's a place" made me shake my head a bit! He has made most of his money in that place he only knows as "a place" and owns a few homes/houses in that area. Although we don't know which of the 5 places he has  purchased is his "home" because he has said in the past that you can buy houses but they are not necessarily a home. But his wife has made them a home.

I have seen some of his movies and he is one of our greatest film actors, I have never seen him onstage, but that just came off as "I am primarily a stage actor because I am here in New York doing "Othello". And then he will eave and go back to LA.  He now has the "luxury" of doing stage whenever he wants to. He could have at least acknowledged that he is both a stage and film actor, because he is, instead of belittling the medium that made him a multi millionaire. 

Just my thoughts after reading the comments and watching the interview. 

I think the reviews thing is a bit silly. Just don't look at them during the opening night party. Why should this show be treated any differently? JMO

 

Updated On: 3/23/25 at 04:53 PM

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 7:30pm

This production is critic proof if most of the tickets have been sold already. The production will recoup unless something happens to Denzel or Jake that prevents them from performing.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 7:44pm

Wick3 said: "This production is critic proof if most of the tickets have been sold already. The production will recoup unless something happens to Denzel or Jake that prevents them from performing."

 

Exactly.

 

[DAME]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 7:57pm

Who cares !  So what !

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 8:03pm

My take was that the journalist Bill Whitaker did not intend to offend DW by calling him a "Hollywood actor" and DW just came off as defensive. I had to chuckle when DW said I worked my whole career for this moment after hearing about how many line calls there were. I usually do not like the publicity race to the Tonys. I always find it sort of uncomfortable. I'm happy for Dead Outlaw because their race will be the shortest.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 9:40pm

BroadwayBen said: "At least they know they should be worried..."

Nope, this production is critic proof. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 9:57pm

Joe & Jill Biden were among the opening night attendees. 

[DAME]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 10:11pm

So was J Lo.

[The Other One]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 10:15pm

uncageg said: "Wayman_Wong said: "''I thought Denzel came across as such a jerk in this - the way he got offended by being referred to as a 'Hollywood Actor' like it was some kind of insult.''

I could understand why Denzel, now 70, reacted that way because being called a ''Hollywood actor'' usually IS an insult. It implies that someone best-known for film work hasn't had any training onstage or deep love for theater. Let's face it: Denzel IS best-known for his movies. I'm sure lots of people don't know he started in theater. I, for one, saw Denzel's Broadway debut in ''Checkmates'' in 1988. Actually, I have a lotta respect for him: He made a name for himself in Hollywood, but has come back to Broadway to do Shakespeare, Eugene O'Neill, Lorraine Hansberry and August Wilson. Unlike the actors who started in NYC, got some fame in L.A. and then never returned to Broadway."



Totally understand what you are saying but for him to sit there and say he doesn't know what Hollywood is and that he knows "it's a place" made me shake my head a bit! He has made most of his money in that place he only knows as "a place" and owns a few homes/houses in that area. Although we don't know which of the 5 places he has purchasedis his "home" because he has said in the past that you can buy houses but they are not necessarily a home. But his wife has made them a home.

I have seen some of his movies and he is one of our greatest film actors, I have never seen him onstage, but that just came off as "I am primarily a stage actor because I am here in New York doing "Othello". And then he will eave and go back to LA. He now has the "luxury" of doing stage whenever he wants to. He could have at least acknowledged that he is both a stage and film actor, because he is,instead of belittling the medium that made him a multi millionaire.

Just my thoughts after reading the comments and watching the interview.

I think the reviews thing is a bit silly. Just don't look at them during the opening night party. Why should this show be treated any differently? JMO

"

I understand what you are saying, but Denzel started in NY theatre.  He was in Coriolanus in the Park and, as a member of the Negro Ensemble Company, was in the original cast of A Soldier's Play before finding success in its film version and on St. Elsewhere.  He has spent most of his career since then making movies, but they haven't all been California based and, especially since his children have grown, he has made several returns to NY theatre.  Five Broadway appearances in the past twenty years might not sound like a lot, but for a major film star it actually is.  This is his fourth Shakespearean play in NY.  Again, for a major film star, that's quite impressive.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 11:02pm

The Other One, I am aware of his professional career in the theater and film. And it doesn't matter if some of his films were not California "based". Melissa25 used the word that escaped me while posting. Defensive. And then that whole what is Hollywood thing and how movies are made. My comment was more about how he responded.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/8/25 at 11:34pm

Saw this again tonight and they’ve made the odd decision  to ditch the microphones the cast wore. I was in a pretty great seat and heard Jake fine but there were more than a few times Denzel and a few others were way too soft, so I kept thinking how the back on the mezz must not be able to hear at all. Very strange.