Word: cassio
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...loving terms with his ex-wife (Signe Hasso), who plays Desdemona. But as he settles down into a long run, and really gets hold of his role, it takes an ever tighter hold on him. He begins to suspect his pressagent (Edmond O'Brien) of being a backstage Cassio. He also experiences some sickening sideslips into full loss of identity. The company becomes more & more nervous about the frightening sincerity with which he plays his strangling scene with Desdemona. Will he finally go completely bats and commit murder...
Lesser parts are competently, though not brilliantly performed. James Monks, of "The Eve of Saint Mark," does the best job of the minor players as Cassio, another victim of Iago's treachery. Uta Hagen is a very frail and very dainty, but also a very spiritless Desdemona. Margaret Webster, who directed the present revival, plays Emilia, Iago's wife, completely straight. She adds not one touch of her own which would let the audience know whether she is working for or against her villainous mate...