School of Drama's 'Desdemona' a deconstruction of Othello

The Edna Manley of the Visual and Performing Arts, School of Drama, will be staging its second production for the 2013-2014 academic year. Theatre goers and scholars will have an opportunity to enjoy Paula Vogel's play, 'Desdemona: A Play About A Handkerchief', which is a post-modern, renaissance-flavoured, feminist deconstruction of Shakespeare's classic tragedy - Othello, the Moor of Venice.

The play is directed by member of faculty Dr Kelli Melson and runs from November 8-11 and 15-17 at the Dennis Scott Studio Theatre at the college.

Sporting an all-female cast, 'Desdemona' is a world of women in the backroom reality, who live in a world controlled by men.

The events in this play revolve around the titular character, 'Desdemona', the new young wife of Othello.

She finds herself isolated and alone in a foreign land, Cyprus, where her new husband is in charge of the Venetian troops who occupy the country.

Desdemona has lost the special handkerchief her husband has given her in token, and we see her relationship deteriorate as she continually fails to find it.

Students sitting English literature at the CAPE level are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity, as it will help in their analysis of their Shakespeare content, in particular, Othello.

There will also be a post-play discussion and the audience will be able to give their feedback through guided discussion.

For theatre-goers and general audiences, 'Desdemona' will entertain with its use of tongue-in-cheek humour and its satirical outlook on the progression of the role of women in society.

The production is rated PG16. For bookings, please call the Edna Manley College School of Drama at (876) 968-0028 or marketing department at (876) 920-4633.

Tickets cost $1,000 and a group rate of $400 is available for groups of 10 or more persons.