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Shakespeare spins Oversized and brightly colored camouflage gear may be the current definition of hip hop chic, but considering the commando-like performances the Honolulu Theatre for Youth gives at Oahu public schools, a more appropriate outfit is hard to imagine.
to a hip-hop beat
HTY gives "Othello" a
contemporary twistBy Shawn 'Speedy' Lopes
slopes@Starbulletin.com"I've always said that anyone who can do two years of our high school tour can do anything," says Mark Lutwak, HTY's artistic director. "We set up, break down and are out of there before anyone knows what hit 'em."
Call it a hip-hop remix if you like, but for many Hawaii students, HTY's new version of "Othello," complete with rapping monologues, street dancing and a live DJ, serves as a primer to Shakespearean literature. While "Othello" plays to a public audience this weekend, its cast has executed daylight raids of schools statewide for several weeks. The players perform as many as a dozen shows a week.
"When we tour, we play out of pretty horrible circumstances," Lutwak says. "Most of the time we're in a gymnasium or a cafeteria competing with the lunch ladies making lunch. The kids are lucky if they have seats. Otherwise, they're sitting at tables watching us perform under fluorescent lights. We've even been to two places where there was a construction site nearby."
To add to the confusion, schools often get far more than they bargain for. "We had one of the teachers freak out at one of the schools last week because (the faculty) suddenly realized they asked for Shakespeare and they got Shakespeare," Lutwak says of the play, which retains many of the vices of the original "Othello" -- drinking, cursing and murder included. The knife fight scene never fails to gain an audience's attention.
"(Teachers) kind of panicked," says Lutwak. "One of them came up and told the stage manager 'You gotta tell them it's not real! Tell them it's not real!,' which is also a compliment."
Presented by Honolulu Theatre for Youth "Othello"
Where: St. Andrew's Cathedral Tenney Theatre
When: 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, March 16 and 23
Tickets: $10 general, $7.50 for teens, $5 for children ages 3 to 12, free for children under $2, although a ticket is required
Call: 839-9885
Still, when students can discuss the play with the cast after the performances, they most often want to review its content.
"The funny thing is, we were leaning on the dance and rap to get the message over, but the kids really want to talk about the story," Lutwak says.
Credit HTY writer Y York, whose adaptation of the age-old tale speaks to students in the 21st century, along with Lutwak's handpicked cast, each of whom are familiar enough with the original to make a fair interpretation. He calls Nara Springer, who plays Desdemona, "one of the most honest actresses I've ever worked with." Due in part to a pared-down cast (the play is pulled off with four performers and DJ Jedi on the "wheels of steel"), the usually pampered Desdemona character has been rewritten as more self-reliant and assured, and Springer has adapted well.
"There's a strength that Nara can bring to that (role) that's a lot more contemporary," notes Lutwak. Springer also co-choreographed the dance routines with hip-hop dance instructor Jonathan Sypert, who plays Cassio.
"Jonathan was cast because he was the best actor for the part," reveals Lutwak. "It just so happens he's also the best dancer."
The role of Othello goes to Charles Timtim, whose tattooed countenance suggests a fierce Polynesian warrior. Lutwak believes Timtim plays Othello perfectly, with equal parts "strength and sweetness." He is also pleased with HTY actor/rapper BullDog, who he believes lends a three-dimensional quality to Iago.
"It's such a great, juicy, juicy part," Lutwak said. "Every actor in the English language would love to play Iago."
Most surprising of all, Lutwak has found the "Othello" experience to be as educational for him as for the students. "I'm learning so much," he said. "Instead of coming to work and telling people what to do, people throw ideas back at me and I sort through them. It's the 15th show I've done at HTY and it's the most exciting one I've directed."
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