Tuesday, August 16, 2011

"Othello Falling" Production Diary - After the First Weekend

Othello Falling Production Diary
August 16, 2011


The opening of the Othello Falling benefit was exciting and satisfying – so many friends stood up and made their support known, by commenting, re-posting the links to the benefit site all across the internet, and offering the kindest words to Jaeda and myself for the effort we are making. A special thank-you to Gina, Kristaline, Lisa, Lucy and Rose, who went above and beyond in their support, advice and encouragement.

I think my favorite moment in the aftermath of the opening was a note from Jaeda (who had never heard my voice before), telling me that her feathered housemate, Birdie Boy, had begun to warble at the sound of my recitation as Othello. What more delightful validation could there be than that?

But of course there is much more to do, and I quickly settled myself down to continue the project. My thoughts had always been clear in my mind that I wanted to follow the first recitation, which introduced Othello and Desdemona on their wedding day, with vows exchanged between the two. Somehow in those vows I wanted to display, subtly at first, the gap between their visions of one another and the realities that would very quickly begin to pull apart their harmony together. Othello, in his vows, out and out admits he is puzzled why Desdemona should love him. He is much older, and has known very little in his life but war. He sees pleasure and fire in her eyes, and tells himself that there can be no other reason for that than honest love, for he has no “temptations” to offer her – equal youth, or cultured learning – that might be serving to cloud her perception. And this is of course true, though his perception of that love will change, as his own self-doubts gnaw at him. For Desdemona, my writing of her character has grown in many ways since I first heard Jaeda read the part. I always thought of Desdemona as a strong woman (as I believe Shakespeare portrayed her, though this is not always brought out in theatric productions), but Jaeda’s Desdemona is fierce and fiery indeed, making me think her character has been brought to a high-strung emotional edge herself, from a lifetime of being controlled and used like a possession. In the rebellious act of her marriage to Othello she sees an end to servitude, and a freedom to be strong with a man who should be accustomed to strength; in her eyes he has emerged from war and strife with what she feels is nobility and a form of proud wisdom. In short, she is quite blind to his doubts and troubled sense of self-worth.


I think these currents of emotion and expectation echo what happens in many relationships that become abusive. The baggage carried into the relationship – old violence, self-doubt, idealization of one’s partner based on flawed perception – is ignored in the beginning, but ignoring it only lights an unseen fuse, which will haunt and shadow the sometimes nearly-mad happiness of passionate infatuation.

So the wedding vows of Othello and Desdemona are in fact poignantly sad and unknowingly desperate…neither one truly sees the other at all.

Visit the ongoing Othello Falling benefit against abuse HERE
Visit Community Action Stops Abuse HERE

4 comments:

Lisa Alexander Griffin said...

Again R Paul, thank you for doing the Othello Falling benefit for woman and children of domestic violence.

I'm constantly amazed at your perception of how things truly are in so many troubled relationships. Your last words say it all..."neither one truly sees the other at all."

R. Paul said...

Thank you, Lisa. And thank you for all the wonderful support you have given to this effort. I will always do everything I can for the women and children of domestic abuse – it’s a kind of cruelty that thrives behind closed doors, in silence and darkness and isolation, and at the very least, we can try to offer insight and fellowship, as well as practical support to organizations like CASA, who offer safe havens.

And yes, in writing Othello and Desdemona (and adding the extra human dimension of Jaeda’s and my voice to their characters), I will continue to try and illuminate the tragic emotions and actions that contribute to abuse. Love is so often referred to in terms of “falling”, and that can and should be a falling into an aware companionship of souls. But another type of fall, like that of this tragic couple, can happen when love is desperate, filled with old pain and betrayal, and lacking in true communication. The real tragedy is that such couples could do so much to heal and support one another, but instead their love turns dark, and the hurtful cycle continues.

If efforts like “Othello Falling” do the tiniest bit to nudge lives trapped in that pain toward healing, freedom, and self-actualization, then it is worth every moment of the work to make it a reality.

Thanks again, Lisa. You are very special.

Jaeda DeWalt said...

"I think these currents of emotion and expectation echo what happens in many relationships that become abusive. The baggage carried into the relationship – old violence, self-doubt, idealization of one’s partner based on flawed perception – is ignored in the beginning, but ignoring it only lights an unseen fuse, which will haunt and shadow the sometimes nearly-mad happiness of passionate infatuation." <--- WOW it is for these very reasons that too many relationships are doomed to fail. You always offer so much personal take away value through the characters you choose to adapt, celebrate and share with us. You are of an incredible mind and imagination. Thank you, R., Your production diary is a soulful and spiritual gem :). And Birdie Boy responds very enthusiastically to you as Othello ♥ ♥ ♥.

R. Paul said...

Jaeda, thank you. I am enjoying doing the production diary -- many of the elements of domestic and other intimate violence that you and I are working to illuminate in this work are subtly woven into the actual performances, and I think the balance of talking about them in plain and open language can only help with the effort.

And I am still delighted that Birdie Boy enjoys my voice, lol.

You have brought the character of Desdemona to vivid, unforgettable life, my dear friend, and I have no doubt that your participation in this benefit will help to change lives...with hope, and with inspiration that freedom from cruelty can be achieved.