Othello
Directed by Leslie Rizor
May 1-17, 2009

Shakespeare's story of love and tragedy still rings true today. Othello and his doomed love, Desdemona, fall victim to the machinations of the evil Iago.








Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. Advance individual ticket sales are available only through BoxOfficeTickets.com or 800-494-TIXS. Adults are $20; Students/Seniors are $15.

Patron's remarks after seeing the show:

Just a note to say how much I enjoyed Upstart Crow's production of Othello. I thought everything from lighting, set, costume to the performances were of the highest quality. I loved your director's choices with the characters - the way I (and I think most men) have a dislike for the pretty and flirtatious Cassio, and the way all women want to pet and protect him. This came across so well that early on you find yourself wanting Iago to succeed. I think the hardest relationship to get right is the Emilia-Iago relationship - why does a good (albeit worldly-wise) woman love such a man? You carried that off so well.

I also thought it was very brave in a small-town production to have staged the abuse of Bianca, the strangling of Desdemona, and the murder of Emilia so graphically. Mel Torme singing "funny valentine" as a preliminary to Desdemona's murder was chilling. I must say, as well, that the chances Alexia took in that scene were very brave, and she carried them off. The presipice betweeen begging/fighting for one's life, and over-acting is perhaps the narrowest of high wires to walk, and she did it without a wavering. I have never been so engaged by an Othello, and only once or twice so by any production, anywhere.

I think the thing that amazed me most is that those Shakespeare quotables - loving too well, beast w. two backs, etc....etc....were just part of the natural dialogue. When you go to a local production, usually the audience gives an "ah" of recognition when they hear a familiar line, like - "oh yes, of course, were are listening to Shakespeare" but not last night. We were all flys on the wall of a terrible tragedy, that happened so naturally and with such an irrestible force that I was almost persuaded to agree with John Calvin about the absence of free will.

My college director always said that the greatest performances weren't happening on Broadway, or in London, but in Bangor, in Omaha,in Tulsa - that the ethereal nature of live performance was its magic and its curse. I'm sorry there weren't a thousand people there last night (that is the curse), but I'm glad I was there for the magic.

Special Thank You From the Director

The director would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance and support with our production:

Thank you to CWO4 Steven E. Butland, USMC (Ret) for his advice, time, and instruction during Mini Boot Camp with the actors and for his continued assistance throughout the rehearsals. Steve, your help was invaluable and I and the actors greatly appreciate it.

Thank you to Marcia Weikle from IRON HORSE ANTIQUES in Manassas, VA for her assistance finding the antique props used in our production and for the generous loan of several costume pieces to the actresses. You were too kind through it all and I think the props are magnificent.

Thank you to Alice Andolina of Costume Castle, Inc. in Loveland, OH for her assistance with the costumes and for her patience as we worked together to get the right look for the period. You were a great help and I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Thank you to Darrell Poe and Julie Cameron for their tireless efforts to bring my vision to life and helping me tell this Othello story while remaining consistently gracious and long suffering. We did it!

Finally, thank you to Charlie Rizor for being the kind of man you are, for keeping safe our hearth, home and dog while I worked on this show, for your amazing designs and for the promises you keep every day of our lives together. I love you.