It's always a slightly dislocating experience, reading plays, because the reading isn't the play. Even when the writing itself is excellent, a good performance can always improve on it - and some plays improve a lot more in the performance than others. I think Othello might be one of those. Even though I enjoyed reading it, there's something a little flat about parts of it, and although I've never seen it performed, I have a strong feeling that, with the right actors, it could be riveting. Alright, Desdemona's a wee bit of a bore and Othello himself is never quite convincing (his fall into murderous jealousy happens far too easily), but Iago would be fascinating to watch. I can feel some of that fascination in the text, and the horrible traitorous web he weaves is both chilling and compelling, so I can only imagine the effect on the stage. But even as text, he comes across so strongly that I'd probably give this 4 stars if it weren't for that ridiculous bit in the middle where Othello is convinced that his wife's handkerchief - a favoured present that means much to both of them - is currently across town in her lover's lodgings, when literally five minutes before she was trying to tie up his head with it. What, has Star Trek's Mr. Scott caught the hanky in his transporter beam? Let's be honest, the title character is not that bright, and while it's not his fault, exactly, that he gets caught in such a plot hole, it's still a bit hard to overlook.