Ninth-Graders Reflect on Broadway Play Othello
Recently, the 9th grade class took a trip to Broadway to watch a live performance of Othello, one of Shakespeare’s most impactful tragedies. The production brought the world of Othello to life in a way that reading alone couldn’t offer. This year, the 9th grade’s English curriculum focuses on analyzing identity, race, and gender in Othello. Othello tells the story of a black military general in Venice who is manipulated by his flag bearer, Iago, leading to jealousy, betrayal, and tragedy. Seeing the live performance helped students better understand the language of the play and see how Shakespeare’s themes are still relevant today. The performance sparked strong reactions among students, who connected what they saw on stage with discussions they were having in class.
Responses varied when students were asked whether reading or watching Othello was more effective for their understanding. Many students felt that studying the play in class gave them a stronger understanding of its meaning: “Reading the play helped me understand the play live, especially since it moved at such a fast pace, but I enjoyed reading the book more” said ninth grader Elsa Katz. With the help of English teachers guiding them through each scene, students were able to explore characters’ motivations, historical context, and Shakespearean language in depth. Still, others found the live performance more powerful. Seeing the characters in motion, hearing their tone, and watching the emotions unfold on stage added clarity and emotional weight to key moments. “In the book, I was kind of confused about the settings,” said ninth-grader Cole Simmons. “When it had stage directions like ‘Iago kills Emilia,’ I didn’t really feel the impact. But seeing it live, it really hit me.” Seeing as some students prefer the book and others the play it was beneficial to see both so students could get a comprehensive overview of Othello.
Most of the 9th grade was eager to see how the actors would portray Othello and Iago, two characters that had been heavily analyzed during class. Some students appreciated the modern interpretation of Othello’s character. For instance, Simmons stated that “After all, hundreds of years later, we’re still learning about his works in class, so it makes sense that Othello can also be given a modern take.” Others, however, felt that the updated version was devoid of some of the strength and presence traditionally associated with Othello as a powerful general. “The actors did not portray those characters well, especially Othello,” said ninth-grader Meerub Choudhary. When it came to Iago, however, students responded more positively. Many praised Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance, noting his ability to convey the character’s manipulation and malice in the flesh.The production’s futuristic setting also sparked criticism. The characters’ outfits were modernized as they were wearing suits, jeans, and leather jackets, the music that played in between each scene was the beats to the music we hear on the radio, and the background was a mix of city and old Venice, as there were flashing lights but also pillars. “The futuristic setting didn’t add anything,” noted Elsa Katz, reflecting a view shared by several classmates who felt the setting detracted from the original tone and message of the play. The original setting and time period of the play helped students understand the characters in a deeper way.
The trip to see Othello on Broadway offered 9th-grade students a fantastic opportunity to engage with Shakespeare’s writing. While opinions about the production varied, the experience without a doubt deepened students’ understanding of the play by making them think about how they view each character. Whether they preferred the written text or the show, the students had the privilege of seeing a once-in-a-lifetime performance and getting to watch the words they read come to life. The trip reinforced how Shakespeare’s work is timeless and still has the ability to resonate with younger audiences.
