"The star power alone is enough and worth seeing Othello. The language stays true to the novel however I think it could've used a more modern twist. No one's performance was mind blowing and that could be due to the difficulty of the lines. The stage was very simple and that could've added to the overall lack luster feeling of the show. In the end, Othello is still very good and worth seeing specifically if you're a fan of the stars in the play. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 24, 2025
High expectations weren’t met
"On paper this is the best Othello ever, but not in practice. It’s good: Gyllenhall does a good job as does Denzel, but nothing more. The set is minimalist, which is fine. The setting modern, which doesn’t add or subtract from the story. I’m sorry to say it is not the best version of Othello I have seen: there’s nothing that is exceptional."
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 10, 2025
Dazed & Confused
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There are a lot of holes and logic missteps in Shakespeare’s plot to start
And the production created a few more of its own
Nevertheless Denzel Washington remains a force of nature on stage and Jake Gyllenhall was absolutely superb.
Certainly pleased I committed the time and energy to seeing the performances 🎭
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Timothy B from Wheaton on Mar 26, 2025
Memorable First Broadway Experience
"First of all, I am ecstatic that my first Broadway show was starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhall. Both great actors and they surrounded themselves with a talented cast.
The set was minimalist, which the cast worked well. They opted for modern clothing, which I actually didn't like. I would have preferred period wardrobe, especially since the set was already minimal.
The Desdemonda actress is probably the weakest, in my opinion. I didn't feel any chemistry between her and Othello. She came across flat and one dimensional to me.
I didn't get a chance to enjoy the theater itself because the staff herded us like cattle. Our phones were powered off and immediately put into lockable pouches. During intermission we were herded to bathrooms or concessions. At the end, we were immediately herded out. The herding took away from the experience. I didn't really get to relish it. "
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Jenita L from Mt Juliet on Mar 24, 2025
Read the play before you go
"Jake Gyllenhaal was phenomenal! His voice overcame the poor sound quality. Sometimes Denzel was hard to hear clearly. The set was sparse and dramatic
Being set in 2028 I was hoping the dialog would be modern too. I find Shakespeare easier to read than to hear "
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Billy A from Roswell on Mar 5, 2025
Another Othello
"Loved the sets …. Simple but effective
JG is excellent as well as the supporting cast.
DW as Othello is where I believe some improvement could have been made.
It’s more of a director’s issue than DW’s performance.
I would have preferred a more serious and disturbing Othello … I got teenage boy v / first love vibes from this Othello.
Overall, I did enjoy it, glad I saw it and glad I paid a reasonable ticket price.
If I had paid an outrageous price, I would not have been as pleased.
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Vivian G from Warwick on May 7, 2025
Not what I expected…
"No doubt the actors are amazing, but the lack of set changes, very basic costumes, and a difficult storyline to follow made it very low on my list of all the Broadway shows I’ve seen. Denzel has amazing stage presence, but if not for him I would have given it 1 star. Jake? Not sure, definitely one of my favorite actors but not on Broadway. "
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Broadway.com Customer on May 2, 2025
The sound quality was poor
"It was hard to hear the actors as if the sound quality was weak.
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 18, 2025
Over promise under deliver
"It’s always great to see my favorite actors onstage and Denzel & Jake were no exception. However thats when the issues came to light. Jake stole the show and Denzel was good but not great. Maybe tired or just an off night. The set was almost non existent. The volume to the audience was way too low. We were in row 2 center mezzanine and a lot of people around us said they had a tough time hearing the dialogue. We studied the story again before attending the show because the last time we read it was in college. Maybe center orchestra would have been better. Lots of hype, it fell short of what could have been. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Mar 6, 2025
About
Othello
Tony® & Academy Award® winner Denzel Washington stars as Othello, the noble Moor of Venice and commanding warrior-general. Opposite him, Tony & Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Iago, the ambitious lieutenant and masterful manipulator.
Spurned for promotion, Iago’s relentless quest for vengeance against Othello and his wife, Desdemona (portrayed by Molly Osborne), plunges them into a shocking web of deception and betrayal.
