Ms. Roberts’ Six Weeks Play Project
DESDEMONA: A PLAY ABOUT A HANDKERCHIEF
PLOT SUMMARY
The story of Desdemona opens on the morning
she is killed by her husband for infidelity. In
Pulitzer-Prize-Winner Paula Vogel’s play, things
are topsy-turvy to Shakespeare’s original
Othello. In Vogel’s adaptation, Desdemona has
been unfaithful to her husband with the entire
garrison (except, ironically, Cassio) and Emilia
is a staunch Catholic singularly loyal to her
husband, Iago.
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
In the opening scene, Desdemona is creating a
mess in a back room of the palace on Cypress
looking for the fated handkerchief while Emilia
watches in frustration. It is just like any normal
day at the palace.
Later, Desdemona finds a hoof-pick and asks
Emilia what it is. The two have a conversation
about their husbands that ends with Desdemona
in giggles and Emilia embarrassed.
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
The conversation turns to Desdemona’s new
friend, Bianca, the local prostitute. Emilia
disapproves of her lady socializing with the other
woman. Apparently, Desdemona ‘stood in’ for
Bianca at work last week and is planning to do so
again. Bianca is supposed to stop by later to pay
Desdemona for the work. As Emilia is digesting
this information, there is a knock at the door. She
goes to answer it and comes back into the room to
tell Desdemona that Othello wants to see her.
Desdemona, frightened, steps offstage, where a
loud slap is heard.
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
The next scene opens with Desdemona once
more frantically searching for the missing
handkerchief. She promises Emilia a
promotion for Iago if she can help her, although
she is puzzled by Emilia’s support of Iago, who
she seems to hate. Emilia then explains how
life is for those in the ‘bottom ranks.’
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
Later on, Emilia arrives with a message from
Desdemona’s former lover, the Ambassador
Ludovico. He is eager to see her, and
Desdemona reminisces about her days in the
convent, when they would share secret
assignations. Emilia, despite everything, still
manages to be shocked by Desdemona’s
behavior, and gives her a lecture on virtue.
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
Desdemona asks Emilia if she’s ever been
unfaithful to her husband, Iago, and then
reflects on the reasons she married Othello in
the first place. She confesses that she admires
Bianca for being a ‘new woman’ who scorns
marriage for the lie that it is. Emilia responds
that Bianca is the same as the rest of the
world, and that there’s no such thing as a ‘new
woman.’
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
The next scene opens with excitement.
Desdemona has decided to leave Othello for
the Ambassador. She tells Emilia to let her
know the instant Bianca arrives and to peel
some potatoes for dinner later. Emilia tries to
argue with Desdemona, saying she’s been
promoted and shouldn’t have to peel potatoes
anymore, but when Desdemona threatens to
leave her behind on Cypress, Emilia meekly
obeys.
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
Emilia is busy venting her anger on the
potatoes when Bianca arrives. The two get into
an argument about Desdemona, and Emilia
has finally managed to frighten Bianca off
when Desdemona arrives and convinces her to
stay.
Emilia is berated and skulks off to fetch wine
for the two friends as they start gossiping.
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
Emilia returns with the wine and the two friends
continue to shun her while Bianca regales
Desdemona with a tale about one of her ‘johns’
who very nearly killed her during a job.
Desdemona is impressed and asks Bianca to show
her how to fake being hurt.
Bianca leaves to use the restroom and
Desdemona tells Emilia she’s going to ask Bianca
about the handkerchief. Emilia begs her not to.
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
Bianca returns and confesses that she’s looking
forward to marrying Cassio. Desdemona is
crushed. Bianca then shows her a ‘gift’ from
Cassio—the handkerchief! When she finds out it’s
Desdemona’s, she becomes violent and threatens
to kill Desdemona.
Bianca spares Desdemona’s life and leaves, but
not before pointedly asking Emilia where Iago was
on the night Desdemona stood in for her.
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
Desdemona and Emilia are left alone.
Desdemona asks Emilia where Iago was on
that night, she answers that he told her he had
guard duty.
Desdemona tells Emilia that she is going home
alone, and will not be able to take her along.
Emilia confesses to taking the handkerchief—
Iago put it up to her as a joke.
PLOT SUMMARY CONTINUED
The women realize that Iago has plotted and
achieved Desdemona’s destruction.
With nothing left to do, they prepare
Desdemona for bed.
CAST
Desdemona – played by
Jessica Brooks-Allen
CAST
Bianca – played by Molly
McKee
CAST
Emilia – played by Rory
Roberts
ANALYSIS
Desdemona is a play that faces, with clear and
dangerous precision, the various roles that three
very different women want to play, are needing to
fulfill, or are often forced to pretend. This is a play
about women . . . What we want, what we do not
want, and what we need. Desdemona is the
central female in Shakespeare’s Othello. In this
modern tale of Desdemona, we see her as more
than a struggling ingenue, we see a woman trying
to find herself while living on display like a
beautiful caged animal in her husband’s palace.
Did she really deserve death?
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