I do so love community theater, with all of its quirks and spirit. There is just something about the whole “let’s put on a show” sort of vibe in a community theater that’s absent from a theater where all of the actors are professional with paychecks attached to their performances.



Since there was a lull in the community theater scene in the South Sound, a friend and I ventured to the Intiman Theatre for the much-celebrated opening of the Seattle stage’s version of Othello.



Just to give you an idea about the pre-show buzz around this production, Intiman’s box office filled the house for all four of the previews before the official opening last week, and the pay-what-you-can performance sold out in 23 minutes. It’s always a good sign that the production is going to be good when demand for tickets requires the theater company to add performances even before opening night. Thus was the case with Intiman’s staging of this play, William Shakespeare’s work of love, jealousy, betrayal, blind loyalty and the quest for power.



Directed by Arin Arbus, this version of Othello was originally produced in New York last February and was then brought back in April before being staged at Intiman this summer.

The staging for this production is simple, with a wood, thrust stage with a raised walkway that adds height to the scene. There are very few props other than swords and the much-talked-about and rarely seen handkerchief owned by Desdemona (played by Elisabeth Waterston) that leads to the downfall of the proud Othello (Sean Patrick Thomas.)



The cast also includes Denis Butkus as Roderigo, Stevie Ray as Dallimore Brabantio and Lodovico, Kate Forbes as Emilia, Lucas Hall as Cassio, Robert Langdon Lloyd as The Duke and Gratiano, Elizabeth Meadows Rouse as Bianca, Christian Rummel as Montano and Lucas Steele as the Senator.



Not only is the show filled with the wonderful language and cadence of one of Shakespeare’s most interesting works, the characters up and down the playbill are packed with complexity and nuance. While Roderigo, for example, is often portrayed as the epitome of a man out to better himself at any opportunity, this take of the classic character is filled with rage against Othello, as he plots his downfall with efficiency and cruelty by involving the fair Desdemona and those around her.

Othello will be at the Intiman in Seattle through Aug. 9.



[Intiman Theatre, through Aug. 9 7:30 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $5-$52, 201 Mercer St., Seattle, 206.269.1900]