Othello: Performers' vocal interpretation of character (accent, volume, pitch, timing, pace, intonation, phrasing, emotional range, delivery of lines)
Othello: Performers’ vocal interpretation of character (accent, volume, pitch, timing, pace, intonation, phrasing, emotional range, delivery of lines)
Vocal Interpretations of Othello’s Character
- Accent: Othello, as a Moor, may be portrayed with an accent showing his foreign origins. This could be a North African or Middle Eastern accent, which could further emphasise his ‘otherness’ in the Venetian society.
- Volume: Othello as a military general would need a commanding, loud voice to convey authority. His volume may decrease when he speaks privately or introspectively, especially during his fall into jealousy.
- Pitch: The actor may adopt a lower pitch to denote Othello’s masculinity and command. Higher pitches might be employed to convey his vulnerability and escalating paranoia.
- Timing: Othello’s military background might influence the performer to use precise, calculated timing, but hastiness or pausing may creep in as his suspicion heightens.
- Pace: A steady pace could reflect Othello’s initial composure, with alterations in pace reflecting his changing emotional state.
- Intonation: The actor could vary the intonation to convey Othello’s varying emotions - from the Romantic love for Desdemona to distress and anger fuelled by jealousy.
- Phrasing: The performer could phrace Othello’s speeches to clearly convey his personality - his pride in his achievements, honesty about his limitations, and later, his regret.
- Emotional Range: Extensive change in emotional tone from devotion and noble confidence to fuming jealousy and regret provide the actor with a broad range to work with.
- Delivery of Lines: Understanding the context and symbolism in Othello’s lines is critical. For example, “Put out the light…then put out the light” conveys the connection between Desdemona’s life and the candle.
Vocal Interpretations of Desdemona’s Character
- Accent: As a Venetian woman, Desdemona would have a local Italian accent, potentially aristocratic, signifying her social class.
- Volume: Desdemona’s volume may change throughout the play, starting off confident and passionate but becoming softer as she becomes a victim.
- Pitch: A higher pitch might be used to portray Desdemona’s gentle femininity but also her youthful innocence and desperation.
- Timing: Calm and collected timing could be used initially, with more hurried and desperate timing as her situation worsens.
- Pace: Desdemona’s pace might be steady displaying her educated background, with a faster pace when under emotional stress.
- Intonation: A spectrum of intonation variations can be used to reflect Desdemona’s love for Othello, her confusion, fear, and ultimately her heartbreak.
- Phrasing: Phrasing of her lines can reveal her respectful yet assertive nature, as well as her palpable fear and disbelief towards the end.
- Emotional Range: Desdemona’s character requires a broad vocal range spanning from youthful love and courage to desperate pleading.
- Delivery of Lines: Delivering innocent lines with a hint of fear, like “That death’s unnatural that kills for loving”, can foreshadow Desdemona’s tragic fate.
General Tips for Vocal Interpretation
- Actors should engage with the text, understanding the character’s motives, emotions, and experiences to inform their vocal choices.
- It’s important to remember to use varying approaches rather than sticking rigidly to one style or choice. Characters in Othello have deep emotional complexities and a range of vocal techniques will be necessary to portray this.
- It’s crucial to reflect on the relationships between characters as they greatly influence dialogue. For instance, Iago’s and Othello’s relationship dynamics should deeply influence the vocal decisions made when these characters engage.
- Finally, experimenting with vocal interpretation during rehearsal can provide valuable feedback, helping performers refine their understanding and portrayal of their character.