OTHELLO, written by William Shakespeare between 1601 and 1602, continues to hold audiences spellbound. This suspenseful drama of jealously and betrayal begins in Venice where Othello, a dark-skinned Moor and rising military star, has just chosen Cassio to be his lieutenant instead of the ambitious Iago, who wanted the position for himself. Iago immediately vows to take revenge on Othello for the slight. On numerous occasions he hints that Cassio is having an affair with Othello’s young wife Desdemona, slowly planting doubt and mistrust in the mind of the jealous Moor regarding his wife’s fidelity. Eventually, an ideal opportunity presents itself to Iago to clinch the matter: He learns that Othello has given a precious family handkerchief to Desdemona and asked her to always keep it as a sign of her fidelity to him. The clever Iago quickly sees to it that the handkerchief is found in Cassio’s rooms. Now convinced that the innocent Desdemona is cheating on him, Othello decides she must die.