TEHRAN- Renowned Iranian actor Abolfazl Pourarab is set to return to the stage as the director of William Shakespeare's iconic play "Othello".

The play will go on stage at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall in late summer, ISNA reported on Monday. 

After a 21-year hiatus, Pourarab, the renowned director, is set to bring Shakespeare's classic play "Othello" to the Vahdat Hall, a venue where he previously staged Molière's "The Miser" to great acclaim, the report added.

"Othello" is a tragic play that tells the story of Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his descent into madness and destruction. The play begins with the marriage of Othello to Desdemona, the daughter of Brabantio, a senator in Venice. However, their happiness is short-lived as Iago, Othello's ensign and friend, becomes jealous of Othello's promotion and begins to plot against him.

Iago convinces Othello that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with Cassio, a young officer who has been promoted to the position of lieutenant. Othello becomes increasingly consumed by jealousy and begins to doubt his own senses. As the play progresses, Othello's behavior becomes more erratic and violent, causing chaos and destruction throughout the city.

Meanwhile, Desdemona is innocent and loves Othello deeply, but she is unable to convince him of her innocence. She tries to reason with him, but he is too far gone in his jealousy to listen. In the end, it is Iago who reveals the truth to Othello, but it is too late. In a fit of rage, Othello smothers Desdemona to death, only to discover later that he has been deceived by Iago.

The play ends with Othello's tragic realization of his mistake and his subsequent suicide. The play explores themes of love, jealousy, and deception, and features some of Shakespeare's most famous characters, including Iago and Othello.

The play has been adapted several times including the 1965 film adaptation, directed by Stuart Burge and starring Laurence Olivier as Othello. This version maintained the traditional setting and characterizations, while also emphasizing the emotional depth of the characters. In contrast, the 1995 film adaptation, directed by Oliver Parker and starring Laurence Fishburne as Othello, introduced a more modern and urban setting, reimagining the story as a gritty and intense thriller.

In recent years, "Othello" has been adapted into various forms, including opera, dance, and even video games. The 2013 opera adaptation by Alfonso Cassaro and Marco Tutino reimagined the story as a psychological thriller set in a modern-day mental institution and the 2018 video game adaptation by Creative Assembly envisioned the story as a historical drama set in ancient Greece.

William Shakespeare, widely regarded as the greatest playwright in English literature, was born in 1564. Throughout his career, Shakespeare wrote an impressive body of work that includes over 36 plays, 154 sonnets, and several poems. His plays span across various genres, including tragedies like "Hamlet" and "Macbeth," comedies such as "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Twelfth Night," and histories like "Henry V" and "Richard III." Shakespeare's works are renowned for their intricate plots, memorable characters, and profound insights into the human condition, making them timeless pieces of literature that continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

Photo: Celebrated Iranian actor Abolfazl Pourarab in an undated photo

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