Rock Island’s Genesius Guild presents Othello Tonight
The Genesius Guild is bringing a well-known Shakespeare tragedy back to their stage as they stage Othello July 8, 9, 15, and 16. All performances begin at 7:00 PM and will be held at the Don Wooten Stage in Lincoln Park. Admission is free.
Othello tells the tragic tale of a military commander who marries Desdemona, a beautiful, wealthy Venetian woman, against her father’s wishes. Calm and patient by nature, Othello is slowly tormented by one of his junior officers, Iago, who seeks revenge after Othello passed over Iago for a military promotion. Over the course of the play Iago slowly stokes jealousy, convincing Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful. By the end of the play, Iago has succeeded in his machinations but leaves a trail of bloodshed behind him.
Genesius Guild offers free productions of mainly Shakespeare and the ancient Greeks at Lincoln Park, Rock Island.
Widely considered to be one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, Othello is a fascinating character study of a true villain. As audience members we are able to see Iago’s villainy, but to the other characters in the play he appears to be a good, honest man. The play explores themes of jealousy, race – and racism that continue to be relevant in today’s world.
This production, which is sponsored by the Moline Foundation, features a mix of Genesius Guild veterans and newcomers to Genesius’ stage. Othello is directed by Teresa Moore and features Anthony Mitchell – a Rock Island native making his first appearance on the Genesius Guild stage – in the title role.
The Genesius Guild is a community theatre organization located in the Quad Cities specializing in free classical drama. Founded in 1956, the group performs Greek drama, Greek comedy, the works of Shakespeare, and other classical authors every weekend throughout the summer. For more information about the Guild, visit www.genesius.org.
