“Created a close, intimate environment”
“Shawn Lewis’s simple set design (with the audience lining either wall and large ornate rugs acting as the stage, creating an ‘in the round’ effect) and Ethan Steimel’s lighting created a close, intimate environment. That only became a problem during swordplay, when large broadswords swished only a few feet from those seated along the walls. But fight director Aaron McDaniel did an exemplary job of ensuring no one felt vulnerable.”
“Arresting scenic design… transports us there”
“Set in Venice and Cyprus during the Ottoman-Venetian War of the early 1570s, the show’s sumptuous period-style character-defining costumes by Jennifer Paar, arresting scenic design by Shawn Lewis, with pendant Moroccan lamps, Oriental carpets and wall hangings, and Ethan Steimel’s evocative theatrical lighting, augmented with flickering candles and handheld lanterns, transport us there.”
“The walls are filled… the atmosphere is enhanced by Shawn Lewis”
“The walls are filled with drawings, empty frames, and ancient, classical-looking bas-reliefs Aich has collected on her travels around the world, giving the play a dramatic, old feeling, as it takes place during the Ottoman-Venetian Wars of the early 1570s. The atmosphere is enhanced by Shawn Lewis’s spare set, highlighted by a few rooms in balconies at the front and back of the ‘stage’…”
“Stained glass brings an engaging medieval ambiance… An immersive experience”
“Director Masenheimer builds a steady flow of action and emotions in Othello. She admirably keeps the large cast individualized for the audience to understand. The entire production: acting, costumes, set and lighting combine to form an immersive experience that makes the audience fell more like voyeurs rather than spectators. It is a great show and event and night out.”
“A one-of-a-kind theatrical experience”
“The New Place Players have a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience being offered right now at Casa Clara - a unique foundry and artist studio nestled into the heart of Gramercy. This extraordinary townhouse apartment has been transformed into a worthy backdrop for the latest reimagining of The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice.”
“Thrusts you right into the world”
“In a time where it seems like other directors feel the need to strip Shakespeare down and find a more minimalistic approach with each iteration, this production is truly a breath of fresh air that thrusts you right into the world where the story is meant to be.”