3-070-857 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches from "Othello," at the Lyceum Theatre, 1881.'...the two leading parts of Othello and Iago have been interchanged reciprocally between Mr. Henry Irving and the American actor, Mr. Edwin Booth, while Miss Ellen Terry has sustained that of "the gentle lady married to the Moor." The scenes are taken from the representation in which Mr. Irving played Iago, which he renders with a subtle perception of the character of that most consummate traitor..This...coolly egotistical betrayer of mankind, is quite capable of making himself a pleasant companion, and so tempting Cassio...to inordinate cups of wine...An incident of the Fourth Act, where Iago gives instructions to foolish young Roderigo for the killing of Cassio, is shown [on] the right...at the top...[is] the scene in the Council Chamber of Venice...At the bottom are two pathetic scenes in the mournful story of the innocent wife, enacted by Miss Terry...Desdemona is earnestly talking with Emilia, before going to bed...To the left...is the scene in which Othello has first charged his wife with her supposed infidelity; and she cries out amazed, "What horrible fancy's this?"..A ghastly reminder of the last scene is given by the hand protruding from the bed-curtain, at one side of the page'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.