Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s new production edits Shakespeare’s play for content and reduces the play to five performers with some doubling. PTSD as potential source of damaged psycheThe play opens with a new silent scene of Othello (Christopher Kirby) and Iago (Dushan Philips) in a war setting. Iago commits a crime against a woman and Othello witnesses the aftermath. Otherwise, the production works well in narrowing the focus and not giving the audience room to breathe. Read: Orlando review: a dazzling journey traversing time, place and identity at BelvoirThis production smartly shifts the focus of the play and successfully places it in a context that is relatable to a contemporary audience.