Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival opens its 20th Anniversary Season with the powerful tragedy Othello enjoying its first-ever staging at the Festival. It runs Tuesdays to Sundays in the 520-seat open-ended Mainstage tent in Vanier Park from May 28 to September 25, 2009. In his 18th season with Bard, Artistic Associate Dean Paul Gibson returns to direct following a year’s hiatus since Romeo and Juliet in 2007.

One of Shakespeare’s best-known tragedies, Othello reveals how jealousy, prejudice, deceit and betrayal can drive innocent love to tragedy. Angry that the noble moor Othello has promoted inexperienced Cassio instead of him, Iago sets out to exact revenge. In a dazzling display of villainy, Iago convinces Othello that his new bride Desdemona has been unfaithful with Cassio, driving Othello to rage, madness and murder.
The play begins with Iago (Bob Frazer) declaring to his fellow Venetian Roderigo (Parnelli Parnes) that he will seek vengeance on both Othello (Michael Blake) and Cassio (Kevin MacDonald). Othello has secretly married Desdemona (Naomi Wright), and Iago sends Roderigo, who is himself in love with the new bride, to tell her father Brabantio (Neil Maffin) that she has eloped with the moor. Furious that his daughter has married a black man, Brabantio appeals to the Duke (Shawn Macdonald), claiming that Desdemona has been bewitched. Othello and Desdemona convince the Duke of their genuine love, and the couple leaves for Cyprus where Othello is to fight a TPerformance details for Othello are as follows:
• OPENS: June 4. PREVIEWS: May 28, 29, 30, 31, June 2, 3.
• Runs Tuesdays through Sundays from May 28 to September 25 - Mainstage tent in Vanier Park.
• Plays in repertory with The Comedy of Errors which begins June 10.
• At the Movies with Othello – 1965 Laurence Olivier movie at Vancity Theatre – June 1 at 6:30 pm.
• Introduction to Othello – part of the 2009 Bard Explored Lecture Series – July 5 at 5 pm.
• Celebrating Red & White – wine event between shows on August 15.