‘Othello’ comes to MHCC theater this spring

A cast and crew of over 20 students are working to bring Shakespeare’s “Othello” to life on May 21, the opening night for Mt. Hood’s spring term theater production.

Mace Archer, MHCC theatre’s artistic director, described “Othello” as “one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies.” The production follows the character Othello, a “(colored) general who ascends to a position of power in a white culture.” Though the story has themes of racism and love, it’s mainly about jealousy and power. The main character of the production is not actually Othello, despite its title.

Iago is Othello’s third-in-command who is looked over for a promotion. Jealous anger sparks Iago into action as “he sets out to destroy Othello,” Archer said, explaining the play’s wreckage in the end.

“The fun of the play is Iago,” said Archer. Everyone loves Iago because “he is conniving, deceitful, lying – he uses everybody.”

MHCC’s rendition of “Othello” will include masks. “Early on in the production we decided that we’re not only going to produce “Othello,” but we (also) wanted our students to experience using masks in a play,” Archer said From time to time in the play, Iago will set up something and turn to the audience, Archer said. When actors remove their masks, they’re sharing their character’s true thoughts. Not only do the actors get experience with masks, the audience gets to always be in on the secrets.

Student actors had to submit to a three-part process of casting their face in order to produce the mask seen in the play. Ian Booth will wear a mask with an enlarged brow to show a strong and fierce warrior, being Othello, Archer noted. “Iago, even though he’s an awful evil person, will look very happy because he’s a liar,” he said. It’s not only actors spending significant time on the play, however. A group of set designers, costume designers, sound designers and light designers are all working on the production. The play “really only has one adult,” professional designer Megan Wilkerson, said Archer. She is responsible for the stage set design everyone will see at the play. A mix of cement walls and chain fences will show the audience that MHCC’s rendition of “Othello” is not set in the 1600s.

The play will be in the Studio Theater rather than the large College Theater. “So, we’ve got this giant-scale play with all of these big themes and it’s in this little intimate theater,  Archer said, excitedly. The front row audience will be roughly 5 feet from the action.

MHCC offers many theatrical fields of study. There are classes and workshops for performing and technical design. Archer always welcomes students wanting to help with productions. Of course, all are welcome to come see “Othello.”