Othelito

Synopsis: Stage recording of a comic version of Othello by Angelo Brandini. The main characters become commedia dell’arte archetypes: Othelito is the Captain, a fearful fellow who is always boasting his achievements. Brabantio becomes a Pantalone of sorts, a cantankerous old miser. Iago is Briguela, the crafty villain. Cassio and Desdemona are the Enamorados, typical romantic characters. With an emphasis on the figure of the clown, the plot unfolds amidst somersaults, cartwheels, slaps and falls. The masks of the commedia dell’arte receive a new twist, notably concerning the clownish eyebrows and noses. Brandini’s ludic recreation recontextualizes the tragic elements of Shakespeare’s plot into a performance that combines elements from the commedia dell’arte and Brazilian cultural practices such as capoeira and samba.
Language: Portuguese (Brazil)
Country: Brazil
Medium: Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Recording date: 2007
Duration: 55 mins