"Othello" is a 1964 Australian television play based on the play by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

. It was broadcast on the

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

as part of ''

Wednesday Theatre ''Wednesday Theatre'' is a 1960s Australian anthology show which aired on the ABC. Many of the episodes were imported from the BBC. However a number of episodes were made locally. Episodes 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Wednesday Theatre ...

'' and filmed in ABC's

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

studios. It aired on 18 November 1964 in Melbourne, on 3 February 1965 in Sydney, and on 7 July 1965 in Brisbane. It was one of the most ambitious projects made in Melbourne, going for over two hours without a break.

Cast

* Raymond Westwell as Othello * Keith Lee as Iago * Frances McDonald as Desdemona * Joan MacArthur as Emilia *

Judith Arthy Judith Anne Arthy (born 12 November 1940 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) is an Australian actress, now retired, and writer. Judith Arthy began her theatrical career in a production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible with the Brisbane Repertory Th ...

as Bianca * John Gregg as Cassio *

Terry Norris Terry is a unisex given name, derived from French Thierry and Theodoric. It can also be used as a diminutive nickname for the names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence or Terrier (masculine). People Male * Terry Albritton (1955–2005), Ame ...

as Rodrigo *

Don Crosby George Wallace Donald Crosby, OAM (29 October 1924 – 3 December 1985) was an Australian actor of radio, stage, television and film, radio producer, stage manager, airman and trade unionist. Early life The fifth child of actor Joseph Alexand ...

Production

Raymond Westwell had played generals on Australian TV in ''The Angry General'' and ''Romanoff and Juliet'' as well as on stage in ''Ross''. "But Othello the Moor is perhaps the stage's greatest general and a part I have been conceited enough to want to have a go at for years", said Westwell. The actor had appeared in various productions of the play overseas but this was the first time he had played the title character. He had seen Laurence Olivier, Anthony Quayle and Paul Robeson play the part. "There are a thousand ways of doing this play and many arguments for and against Othello being portrayed either as a Negro or an Arab," said Westwell. "Sir Laurence Olivier played him as a negro and won tremendous acclaim last year. However Patrick Barton and I feel that Shakespeare intended him to be an Arab." Frances McDonald made her TV debut.

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...

'' said "the emotional trivialities of the minor characters were excellently handled" but felt Othello was "rather too much an English country gentleman" and Keith Lee played his part "as a man believing in nothing apart from himself."

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1964 television plays 1964 Australian television plays 1960s Australian television plays Wednesday Theatre (season 1) episodes Works based on Othello Television shows based on works by William Shakespeare Television plays directed by William Sterling