Leading Lights

Othello's leads shine.

by David Anthony Fox

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Golden days for local Bard fans: Hot on the heels of Philly Shakes' excellent Pericles comes the Lantern's Othello. It's quite a different game, of course. Here is deeply canonical Shakespeare, with a history of legendary productions that cast long shadows. But Lantern's fine work needs fear no comparisons. It's a raw-boned, exciting evening to last in memory.

Let's start with the greatest pleasures — two marvelous (and intriguingly idiosyncratic) central performances. Peter Pryor's Iago is every bit as good as his revelatory, Barrymore-winning Richard III two seasons ago — and like it, an interpretation made more menacing for his humor and everyman ordinariness. Pryor, who in another life is a skilled comic, is especially expert at working off the audience, whom he seems to consult for approval on his every sinister move. There are some brilliantly offbeat line readings — "I'll pour this pestilence into his ear" is almost thrown away, to spine-tingling effect.

Frank X is likewise an original choice for Othello. Not by nature the "extravagant and wheeling stranger," X is more notable for keen intelligence than towering sex appeal. But what an actor! His Othello is conceived and played on a grand scale, rejoicing in the sheer beauty of voice and language (on occasion, even rolling his "R"s). The reserves of power are there also, and X maneuvers seamlessly from confident leadership to pitiable breakdown to a heart-stopping final scene.

There's good work,too, from several supporting players, especially Sarah Sanford as an unusually strong Emilia. Director Charles McMahon has placed all of this in a vibrant, richly entertaining world. There are a few misses, too. Double-casting the ensemble is confusing, especially with Sanford, who appears at one point to be playing Portia; at another, a hooker out of The World of Suzie Wong. The latter is related to some costume choices that go haywire mostly in the Cyprus scenes, where Desdemona herself looks like Bette Davis in The Letter. (She's played by Mary McCool, who is too contemporary and coquettish. She and Sanford would be better with their roles reversed.)

But most of the design is terrific, and all of my quibbles are small in an evening notable for visual appeal, energy and most of all, two great actors in performances that must be seen.

(d_fox@citypaper.net)

Othello Through May 4, Lantern Theater Co. at St. Stephen's Theater, 923 Ludlow St., 215-829-0395, lanterntheater.org.