"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
Sometimes adapting history to current day is unessesary
"The acting was great and Jake G stole the show. I would have preferred if the adaptation would have either lightened up on the Shakespeare speak or keep it in original form and era."
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Frederick W from Huntersville on May 4, 2025
Iago was marvelous, Othello was a little too light for my taste
"I have felt a little inconsistency in the show. It might be the directing or Othello himself (Denzel Washington) who did not really fit in the show.
A general of an army is after so many tours is more fearsome, more ‘heavy’ - it’s a tragedy not a comedy.
Iago can not be mean enough if the Moor acts less serious."
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Béla V from Biatorbágy on May 2, 2025
Mediocre at Best!
"Hard pressed to find something that was exceptional or extraordinary."
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 30, 2025
Very odd.
"Jake nailed it. As an Iago fan he brought a depth to the part that made the show. As for the rest…. The set. Costumes. Casting. Denzel’s motivation. I just dont get it. Lost opportunity. "
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Emily A C from Cleveland on Apr 21, 2025
Denzel was strong
"I knew the story and of course it is intense. Denzel was strong but often hard to hear. Jake spoke so quickly it was hard to understand him and he was also often hard to hear. The actors who played Desdemona and Cassio were excellent. The set was too static. The second act was far better than the first."
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 20, 2025
If you are going to see the play rather than Hollywood this is not for you
"Disappointing and not for me. Having seen the Principles on stage prior in other performances I had anticipated a gripping interpretation of the roles ... this was not delivered. Actually googled post show to see if we had inadvertently purchased preview tickets. Iambic pentameter ran away from both leads at times offering a 'reciting/recalling' lines delivery. The bare bones set and odd 'costume' choices ... think Men's Warehouse special offers for the Senators .. did nothing to help. If direction is striping back set/production to concentrate focus on the performance of the leads then said performances need to be gripping and exceptional ... for me, these were not even close. Some casting choices leave one thinking that there was a basic lack of understanding of the 400 year old play. 'Interesting' choice to do away with the comic relief musicians/clown and instead attempt a 'humorous' interpretation to some of Iago and Othello's lines .. just awkward. Ultimately if you are hoping to see 2 powerhouse actors deliver a stellar performance as leads in Shakespeare this is not it. If you are going to see the 2 Hollywood stars up close in a theatre this is for you."
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 1, 2025
Disappointed
"Appreciated the set design and attempt at modernized costumes; however, the performance of the title character was disjointed and almost comical at times. The tragedy felt like a Shakespearean comedy rather than a tragedy. It simply doesn't work. Iago's portrayal was closer to the author's intent, but he, too, lacked pathos. The classic theme of good vs. evil simply limped along through the action of this performace. Very disappointing!"
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 20, 2025
Solid acting poor production and direction
"The “get me there” was Washington and Gylleenhaal but was sadly disappointed along with my 3 other family members. Solid performances as expected by both leads but not great. The rush through their lines to the point of limited understanding. Production quality was poor at best even though I do like the idea of modernizing the characters while keeping Shakespeare-ing Old English ala Romeo and Juliet but they didn’t come close to pulling it off. Result was a boring, sleeping show with the audience completely lulled to sleep."
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Scott D from Atlanta on Apr 20, 2025
Very disappointing
"What a disappointment! We didn’t like the modern “placing on stage”. The acoustics were bad: difficult to understand the dialogs. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Mar 21, 2025
boring underacted nothing special
"The sets are effective. That is about all that is. If you have never seen Shakespeare and this was yourt first it is unlikely you would ever go again. And if you are well acquainted with his work you will not find anything worthwhile in this production. The actors are underwhelming. They may know their lines but they do not project or enunciate particularly well and they have no passion. This is a play about passion: rage, fear, pride, jealousy, hubris. None of those emotions are explored and the words fall limply and without impact. I fault the director but the actors share the blame for a totally missed opportunity."
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Marianne G from New York on Mar 13, 2025
aesthetically unpleasing
"I felt like I was watching a high school production. Costume and Stage production were extremely low budget. Highly overrated. The only positive was that the female actors were outstanding even though there costumes were not. "
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Broadway.com Customer on May 14, 2025
Love Shakespeare, but…
"Othello did not work on any level. Set, costuming, diction, blocking, physical manifestation of what words should convey, speed of speech, lack of imbuing the words with meaning, and Denzel’s diction and interpretation seemed unfathomable at times. He stood with his eyes directed to the ceiling so often we all started looking up to see what was up there.
The violence seemed more like le grand ennui, and Iago carried very little menace in his bag of tricks.
Le sigh."
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 25, 2025
Too expensive,disappointing evening
"I have hearing aids and by confiscating the phones.I couldn't adjust the volume needed to hear.The modern scenery and costumes is always a turnoff for a classic such as Othello and honestly the actors' voice projection wasn't very good.Would not recommend even with the two stars.Go back to putting on classical adaptations of these gems."
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Terry E from Greensburg on Apr 13, 2025
The show just doesn’t work
"Disjointed. Seems to still bend in the rehearsal phase. . There was no ensemble feeling to the performing artists. The show would only be appealing to true Shakespeare lovers, and fanatical about the two stars."
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Broadway.com Customer on Feb 28, 2025
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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.
