Hollywood powerhouses Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal leave critics underwhelmed in Broadway Shakespeare adaptation
Broadway 's revival of Shakespeare's Othello has received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom have taken issue with the modernization of the production.
Set in the 'near future,' Othello is led by Hollywood heavyweights Denzel Washington as the titular commanding warrior-general and Jake Gyllenhaal as his ambitious lieutenant Iago.
'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,' according to an official logline.
With only a 15-week run, the show, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon and taking place at Ethel Barrymore Theatre, has already broken box office records to become the highest-grossing Broadway play ever, raking in $2.8 million in previews in a single week.
Despite movie stars Washington and Gyllenhaal being lauded for their performances, the revival hasn't totally landed with critics.
'Given the visibly well-heeled nature of the audience at the performance I attended, and the slick, contemporary attire used in Kenny Leon's production, as designed by Dede Ayite, I felt at times like I was watching an immersive, militarized version of Billions, or Succession,' Chris Jones wrote for New York Daily News.
Jones found that casting 70-year-old Washington opposite Osborne, 27, as Othello's lover Desdemona, created more of a 'paternalistic' dynamic. 'You don't feel much of a sexual connection between Othello and Desdemona,' he added, which he said 'fights the play.'
The New York Times 's Jesse Green, meanwhile, hailed Gyllenhaal's 'eely take' on Iago, arguing that 'this Othello offers an Iago far more legible than his master.'
Green additionally took issue with 'Leon's decision to set the action 'in the near future,'' adding: 'In short, as I felt the production's blunt force more and more, I grasped its aura and aims less and less.'
Deadline 's Greg Evans also found the modernizing premise unfortunate, writing that it 'seriously impacts the emotional punch of the ending.'
As for the acting, he found Washington's performance to be 'fine, a bit unsure of his characterization occasionally and fitful in his mood shifts.'
However, Evans applauded Gyllenhaal, saying: 'Gyllenhaal grabs hold and never lets go, reciting his lines with all the modern-day suavity, earnestness and, when necessary, crocodile tears to fill up the Barrymore's massive stage.'
For AMNY, Matt Windman had a far more withering take on the overall production.
'It's okay, at best — a pedestrian, cheap-looking, uninspired, forgettable staging,' he added, opining that 'a major problem is Washington's half-baked performance.'
'While he is fine at first as a stately military leader and relaxed new husband, he does not credibly convey the character's transformation into mad jealousy and suspicion, reducing it to something vaguely kooky and unthreatening,' Windman critiqued of Washington's Othello.
He found Gyllenhaal to be a 'capable and physical Iago,' though he thought 'his attempts to depict the character as unsure and vulnerable during private soliloquies are unconvincing.'
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She won out against Julia Knitel for Dead Outlaw, Gracie Lawrence for Just in Time, and Justina Machado for Real Women Have Curves, and Joy Woods for Gypsy. She received the award from Rachel Bay Jones and Kristin Chenoweth. The Best Featured Actress in a Musical award went to Natalie Venetia Belcon, 56, for her performance in Buena Vista Social Club It was her first Tony nomination and win, and the star got emotional while accepting her award At one point she also joked about having an 'obsession' with actor Jason Momoa, quipping, 'Hey, Jason. How you doing?' She then thanked the 'real Buena Vista Social Club, who of course we could not do this without. I hope you will see this. I hope you are proud of us. It is such an honor to portray you' She received the award from Rachel Bay Jones and Kristin Chenoweth The best new play award went to author Branden Jacobs Jenkins and producer Glenn Davis for Purpose They were presented the award by actor Ben Stiller The best new play award went to author Branden Jacobs Jenkins and producer Glenn Davis for Purpose. They were up against Oh, Mary!, John Proctor Is the Villain, English, and The Hills of California. Author Jonathan Spector and producer Lynne Meadow accepted the award for Best Revival of a Play for Eureka Day. They were up against Our Town, Romeo + Juliet, and Yellow Face. Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson presented them with the award. The best direction of a play award was given to theatre director Sam Pinkleton for Oh, Mary!. The award was presented by two-time Tony nominee Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney. 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Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson presented them with the award The best direction of a play award was given to theatre director Sam Pinkleton for Oh, Mary! 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The Musical Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER Best Play English — Author: Sanaz Toossi The Hills of California — Author: Jez Butterworth John Proctor Is The Villain — Author: Kimberly Belflower Oh, Mary! — Author: Cole Escola Purpose — Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins - WINNER Best Revival of a Musical Floyd Collins — Book/Additional Lyrics: Tina Landau; Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel Gypsy Pirates! The Penzance Musical Sunset Blvd. - WINNER Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Laura Donnelly — The Hills Of California Mia Farrow — The Roommate LaTanya Richardson Jackson — Purpose Sadie Sink — John Proctor Is The Villain Sarah Snook — The Picture Of Dorian Gray - WINNER Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Megan Hilty — Death Becomes Her Audra McDonald — Gypsy Jasmine Amy Rogers — BOOP! The Musical Nicole Scherzinger — Sunset Blvd. - WINNER Jennifer Simard — Death Becomes Her Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Tala Ashe — English Jessica Hecht — Eureka Day Marjan Neshat — English Fina Strazza — John Proctor Is The Villain Kara Young — Purpose - WINNER Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Natalie Venetia Belcon — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER Julia Knitel — Dead Outlaw Gracie Lawrence — Just In Time Justina Machado — Real Women Have Curves: The Musical Joy Woods — Gypsy Best Direction of a Musical Saheem Ali — Buena Vista Social Club Michael Arden — Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER David Cromer — Dead Outlaw Christopher Gattelli — Death Becomes Her Jamie Lloyd — Sunset Blvd. Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Dead Outlaw — Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna Death Becomes Her — Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey Maybe Happy Ending —Music: Will Aronson; Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park - WINNER Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical — Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts Real Women Have Curves: The Musical — Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez Best Orchestrations Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber — Just in Time Will Aronson — Maybe Happy Ending Bruce Coughlin — Floyd Collins Marco Paguia — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber — Sunset Blvd. Best Scenic Design of a Musical Rachel Hauck — Swept Away Dane Laffrey and George Reeve — Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER Arnulfo Maldonado — Buena Vista Social Club Derek McLane — Death Becomes Her Derek McLane — Just In Time Best Costume Design of a Musical Dede Ayite — Buena Vista Social Club Gregg Barnes — BOOP! The Musical Clint Ramos — Maybe Happy Ending Paul Tazewell — Death Becomes Her - WINNER Catherine Zuber — Just In Time Best Lighting Design of a Musical Jack Knowles — Sunset Blvd. - WINNER Tyler Micoleau — Buena Vista Social Club Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun — Floyd Collins Ben Stanton — Maybe Happy Ending Justin Townsend — Death Becomes Her Best Sound Design of a Musical Jonathan Deans — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER Adam Fisher — Sunset Blvd. Peter Hylenski — Just In Time Peter Hylenski — Maybe Happy Ending Dan Moses Schreier — Floyd Collins
