Go! review

It’s a testament to William Shakespeare’s genius that his plays hold up after 400 years of performance and re-interpretation.

Now running in the intimate Shelterhouse Theatre at the Playhouse in the Park, “Othello” proves its mettle.

Although there’s a war at the edges of the action, the plot of “Othello” doesn’t revolve around the grand machinations of governments and kings, but in the relationship between Othello, his wife Desdemona and his captain (“ancient” in the text) Iago.

Indeed, it’s Iago who sets forth the action. Passed by for a promotion and feeling pangs of jealousy himself, believing without evidence that Othello has invaded Iago’s own marriage bed, Iago plants seeds of doubt about Desdemona’s faithfulness.

Consequently, the success of an “Othello” production requires a strong Iago, and R. Ward Duffy plays the conniving and duplicitous provocateur to near perfection.

Likewise, Esau Pritchett and Sarah Dandridge, both making their Playhouse debuts, give winning performances as Othello and Desdemona, and Carine Montbertrand, recently seen in “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure,” does nice work as Iago’s wife Emilia.

It’s hard to fathom, however, what the point is in presenting Roderigo, Iago’s accomplice, as a nerdy frat-boy type, and the only other complaint is that the actors who double roles don’t make their characterizations distinctive enough to be sorted out.

Otherwise, it’s a great joy to watch as Iago nurtures Othello’s jealousy to the dramatic, tragic conclusion.