Difference between revisions of "Othello (play)"

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(unlike the other play pages, the details are largely in the production background, but that makes sense given the nature of the references.)
 
 
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'''''Othello''''', also called '''''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice''''', is a play written by [[William Shakespeare]] around 1603 set in both Venice and Cyprus about a General subjected to the manipulations of his jealous subordinate.
 
'''''Othello''''', also called '''''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice''''', is a play written by [[William Shakespeare]] around 1603 set in both Venice and Cyprus about a General subjected to the manipulations of his jealous subordinate.
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[[Alesand]] would eventually record how, in [[Timeline#Before 994|971]], she and the other locals (human and gargoyle alike) of [[Wyvern Hill]] twice saw an "Italian play" performed by an acting troupe known as the [[Illuminati|Light-Bringers]]. Unbeknownst to (at least) her, this play featured characters and plot elements bearing some resemblance to Shakespeare's future play. ''([[The Draw|"The Draw"]], [[The Dream|"The Dream"]])''
  
 
==Real World Background==
 
==Real World Background==
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==Production Background==
 
==Production Background==
Unlike ''[[Gargoyles (TV series)|Gargoyles]]'' characters that are direct adaptations from other Shakespeare plays (most notably from ''[[Macbeth]]'' and ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''), ''Othello''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s characters have thus far only been featured in the character analogues of [[Coldstone]], [[Coldfire]], and [[Coldsteel]]. When [[Marty Isenberg]] and [[Robert N. Skir]] wrote the first draft outline of [[Legion|"Legion"]], the [[Coldtrio]]'s backstory reminded [[Greg Weisman]] of the dynamic between Shakespeare's Othello, Desdemona, and Iago, and he later suggested the names be used as designations to better keep track of their pre-massacre personas inside Coldstone's mind. [https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?rid=99] The backstory's sequence featured Goliath fulfilling the role of Cassio. [https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=3557] The ''Othello''-themed designations were also used in [[High Noon|"High Noon"]].
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Unlike ''[[Gargoyles (TV series)|Gargoyles]]'' characters that are direct adaptations from other Shakespeare plays (most notably from ''[[Macbeth]]'' and ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''), ''Othello''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s characters have been reinterpreted in the character analogues of [[Coldstone]], [[Coldfire]], and [[Coldsteel]]. When [[Marty Isenberg]] and [[Robert N. Skir]] wrote the first draft outline of [[Legion|"Legion"]], the [[Coldtrio]]'s backstory reminded [[Greg Weisman]] of the dynamic between Shakespeare's Othello, Desdemona, and Iago, and he later suggested the names be used as designations to better keep track of their pre-massacre personas inside Coldstone's mind. [https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?rid=99] The backstory's sequence featured Goliath fulfilling the role of Cassio. [https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=3557] The ''Othello''-themed designations were also used in [[High Noon|"High Noon"]].
  
 
Weisman was never sure if Isenberg and Skir intentionally wrote the characters' backstory with such obvious parallels, but figures they did, given what a big fan of the Bard Weisman is. [https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=374][https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=675][https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=644]
 
Weisman was never sure if Isenberg and Skir intentionally wrote the characters' backstory with such obvious parallels, but figures they did, given what a big fan of the Bard Weisman is. [https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=374][https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=675][https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=644]

Latest revision as of 18:19, 24 January 2024

Othello, also called The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, is a play written by William Shakespeare around 1603 set in both Venice and Cyprus about a General subjected to the manipulations of his jealous subordinate.

Alesand would eventually record how, in 971, she and the other locals (human and gargoyle alike) of Wyvern Hill twice saw an "Italian play" performed by an acting troupe known as the Light-Bringers. Unbeknownst to (at least) her, this play featured characters and plot elements bearing some resemblance to Shakespeare's future play. ("The Draw", "The Dream")

Real World Background

In addition to Shakepeare's primary source of Cinthio's Hecatommithi from 1565, there are several inspirations for the play, including the War of Cyprus in 1570, and the Moroccan Ambassador Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun's visit to Queen Elizabeth's court in 1600. It was likely first performed for James VI/I.

Production Background

Unlike Gargoyles characters that are direct adaptations from other Shakespeare plays (most notably from Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream), Othello's characters have been reinterpreted in the character analogues of Coldstone, Coldfire, and Coldsteel. When Marty Isenberg and Robert N. Skir wrote the first draft outline of "Legion", the Coldtrio's backstory reminded Greg Weisman of the dynamic between Shakespeare's Othello, Desdemona, and Iago, and he later suggested the names be used as designations to better keep track of their pre-massacre personas inside Coldstone's mind. [1] The backstory's sequence featured Goliath fulfilling the role of Cassio. [2] The Othello-themed designations were also used in "High Noon".

Weisman was never sure if Isenberg and Skir intentionally wrote the characters' backstory with such obvious parallels, but figures they did, given what a big fan of the Bard Weisman is. [3][4][5]

During the show's development, early names for Goliath included Othello as a possibility. [6]

Greg Weisman has mused that Vinnie Grigori would make a great Rodrigo. [7]

See Also