Playing Juliet/Casting Othello

Synopsis: Video recording of a production of Caleen Sinnette Jennings’ play ‘Playing Juliet/Casting Shakespeare’ directed by Lisa Rose Middleton. The cast is equally divided between black and white actors and the rehearsal room becomes a platform for exploring feelings about race, physical appearance, class and education. The first act revolves around a rehearsal of Romeo and Julie. Was Georgia (a dark-skinned woman who is not a youthful beauty) cast as Juliet because the young white director wanted to prove something? In the second act the company rehearses Othello. When the actor cast as Othello quits, Jimmy - uneducated and untrained - takes over. The uneducated outsider understands the dignity of Othello in a way others don’t; the back women are offended by being cast as Emilia the maid and Bianca the whore. Videotaped for WAPAVA by James J. Taylor.
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Recording date: 31 Jan 1998

Director

Lisa Rose Middleton

Writer

Caleen Sinnette Jennings

Music

Mike Savenelli

Production Design

David Evans Morris

Costume

Howard Vincent Kurtz

Contributor

James J. Taylor

Cast

Theatre: Elizabethan Theatre, Folger Shakespeare Library
Theatre company: Source Theatre Company
Production type: Stage Recordings
Plays: Othello; Romeo and Juliet
Subjects: Drama
Keywords: race relations; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Rehearsals; Casting (roles)

Notes: The play text can be read at http://books.google.co.uk/books (accessed 11/2010).
History: The production at the Elizabethan Theatre ran 9 January- 1 February 1998.
Textual information: Dramaturg is Robin Ervin.

British Universities Film & Video Council