By Colt Langley/managing editor
South student Jamal Benoit said he was delighted to play Othello, his first lead ever.
“Once you do Shakespeare, you can put it on a résumé,” he said. “I’m excited about that. This is my first time to have the lead role and to prove that I can do more than just a couple of lines.”
Playing Desdemona, Othello’s wife, will be South student Michelle DuBose. She said she enjoys playing the character because Desdemona is an honest woman.
“She’s very sweet. She loves her husband,” DuBose said. “Their relationship means a lot to her. But at the same time, she’s a very strong woman.”
DuBose has been acting since childhood, but Othello is her first play as a TCC student.
The character Iago, played by South student Justin Grimes, is known for filling Othello’s head with ideas about Desdemona’s possible infidelity.
Grimes said he has been waiting for this kind of role.
“Iago is Shakespeare’s most notorious villain,” he said. “He’s very fun to play because he is just so darn evil, and I’ve always wanted to tackle this role. I really like to play the chameleon that is Iago.”
Cassio, who Iago sets up, is played by South student Wesley Harris. This is Harris’ first role since high school.
“What I like about Cassio is that he’s a military man and a ladies’ man,” Harris said.
He also said he has missed being a part of the theater.
“I just enjoy the whole theater process like the late night rehearsals and all the emotions flaring on stage and backstage,” he said.
South student Lydia Pena will play Bianca, Cassio’s mistress.
Pena said her character is fun to play because she’s “the hooker of the story, a girl with loose morals.”
South Campus drama instructor Melinda Benton will direct the play. Benton said she is happy to direct a Shakespearean play but even more happy that it’s Othello.
“I’m thrilled to finally direct Shakespeare on South Campus,” she said. “It’s a great deal of fun. Othello’s such a great exploration of human nature, manipulation, love and lust. This particular production will be different than most because I’m setting it in contemporary times. The setting is in both Washington, D.C., and Iraq.”
Although reservations are not required, South Campus allows no late seating.
