is a five-act tragedy that is no stranger to a 180-minute performance. Thankfully, Stages theater steers us from that slog fest and gives its Houston audience an 80-minute delight. Instead of Elizabethan English, vernacular and verse combine to create a sonically infectious world filled with hip hop beats and catchy rhymes., playing in all its bombastic glory, the Q Brothers imagine Othello as a rapper and Desdemona as the enchanting vocalist that sings the hooks on his songs.
This is a relentlessly high-energy show and while the actors’ stamina is tested at times, they never drown in their own sweat. They rap with precision and deliver the punchlines to loud audience response. Pullam stuns as the immature protege. His silly dance moves and juvenile delivery brings to life a character who would fall susceptible to any slight manipulations.
Lopez fascinates. There is an infectious quality anytime an actor steps on stage and visibly enjoys their role. Lopez brings personality to each role that he plays. Even when he humorously takes a brief moment to drink water during a transition, the moment comes alive through audience laughter. He gleefully sees the entertainment value in each moment he's on stage and takes it. His spontaneity and playfulness adds to the humor of the show.