Shakespeare in the ghetto, Othello

Marcus Sykes Performs a Piece from the ever controversial play Othello, by William Shakespeare.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• othello
• sykesmarcus
• shakespeare
• play
• art
• film
• shortfilm
• acting
• stage
• in
• the
• ghetto
• television
• actor

[youkeylaylee]

how is this in any way ghetto?

[sykesmarcus]

@youkeylaylee it was done in the ghetto. Shakespeare in the park isn't park, its just done in the park.

[doug1119]

A very honest (almost empathetic) portrayal. There is something in Othello with which you identify, isn't there?

[sykesmarcus]

yea were both black i love Shakespeare but there are few black heros in his work so i feel most comfortable in this role. my acting teachers loved my performances and encouraged me to do more shakespeare but othello is my favorite

[sykesmarcus]

@doug1119 you think so huh.

[likefrogs45]

I love the performance I am just so sorry it has become such a debate with so many closed minds. Please don't let it stop you in your dreams.

[Mavalution]

This ain't ghetto.

[cygarcia92]

That's one ghetto chair.

[NukePaperScissors]

Ive seen Shakespeare at the globe theater but I do prefer this!

[lindaliriel]

@johnrobbie11 I prefer the play to be shortened, with less wods, but pronounced properly with good diction, so that the audience can actually understand the words; too much is lost, ad quite frustrating, otherwise.

In the last Shakespearean ply I was in (JC) the play was cut to jst under 2 hours. It was a success, and every word was clear and understood

Diction is a huge part of an actor's work

[johnrobbie11]

@lindaliriel However, you also must be careful not to take too much time. Some thoughts are to be run together because they don't make sense when broken apart.

I just came off a run of doing Othello and our production (with some pretty drastic cutting) ran approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. You simply can't ask an audience to sit through any play, let alone an Old English Shakespearean play, for over three hours while the actor takes his merry time with the language.

[johnrobbie11]

@TenderTrap86 Actually, in Elizabethan England, the term "Moor" referred to anyone of dark skin tone. That's why there are Spanish Moors as well as African Moors. So your point that Moors are Muslim is false. Spanish Moors would be very much Catholic.

As for Berber people, when companies perform Othello, and Othello is indeed portrayed as an African Moor, they normally take the belief that he was of the Berber people. They are two references in the play to the word "Barbary," therefore Berber.

[azhamat2]

good stuff man

[youkeylaylee]

@sykesmarcus oh. well i think it's good to do it in the ghetto rather than having it done in a peaceful park. it makes conflict more obvious. nice touch