The New York Times - Recommended
"Clever and exuberantly performed...The music pulses with life, and the cascading rhymes of the lyrics are often inspired. My only qualm is that the rhythms vary so rarely that a certain monotony sets in…Still, diversions keep coming, even when the tragedy reaches its climax…'Othello: The Remix' will probably not reduce you to tears or leave you in stunned silence. But it's a tickling refreshment to leave a production of this dark tale with a smile on your face."
New York Theater - Somewhat Recommended
"'The Remix' certainly works as a fast-paced rap concert, with dramatic lighting and a fine DJ spinning while four delightful performers spit out witty couplets and execute synchronized choreography...It is the Q Brothers' first foray into Shakespearean tragedy. And therein lies the rub...The weirdest choice is to cast Desdemona as a disembodied voice...It's choices like this that rob us of the full force of Othello's wrongful actions, and the full horror in his realization of what he's done."
Entertainment Weekly - Recommended
"They lean into the comedic side of the tragedy throughout the show, and everyone looks like they're having a blast. Their jubilation is infectious...Though some of the jokes are repetitive or go on a bit too long, the play's quick run time keeps this from becoming a real issue. What's slightly more concerning is Desdemona...She's just a disembodied vocal solo piped through the speakers...Quibbles aside, 'Othello: The Remix' is a thoroughly entertaining way to spend an evening."
Newsday - Highly Recommended
"Inspired, blazingly muscular and visceral. It is also as raw and real as the unfinished wood on the walls...This is high-concept Shakespeare...But it is also high-intelligence and passionate. Unlike many Othellos, who get upstaged by the more theatrical Iago, Oyelowo is just as charismatic...In Iago's soliloquies...Craig's hearty voice hollows into rich, menacing beauty...Gold's direction is a rowdy universe away from his sensitive touch in the Tony-winning 'Fun Home,' but just as authentic."
Time Out New York - Somewhat Recommended
"The Q Brothers have transformed the bloody tragedy into a rip-roaring, rapped one-act rich with dizzying rhymes...The quartet plays all the characters, tackling quick changes as deftly as tongue-twisting text against DJ Supernova's slick beats. Yet only Pringle attempts to find the gravitas in the tale...The show is clever and exhilarating, but also a missed opportunity—as if the creators were looking at the green-eyed monster through rose-colored glasses."
CurtainUp - Recommended
"The Q Brothers have effectively and entertainingly transposed 'Othello's' story into modern rhyme…They've remained true to the narrative even though it all plays out in a fast-paced 80 minutes…The remix also means that plenty of comedy has been mixed into the storytelling...Gets most of its laughs from the split-second timing with which the cast switches roles...The title role is portrayed with verve and genuine emotional depth by Postell Pringle."
TheaterScene.net - Highly Recommended
"Written, composed and directed by GQ and JQ, ‘Othello: The Remix' is a funny, quick-paced modern retelling of the tragedy set in the world of rap stars, recording studios and the party scene. The rhymes come swiftly, showing off the intelligence of the two writers. They are able to both make fun of ‘Othello' and the business they're in while still loving both to death. They take witty pot shots at other pop stars and the machinations of Shakespeare's convoluted plotline are all quite clever."
Theatre Is Easy - Somewhat Recommended
"‘Othello: The Remix' does indeed cleverly play with language in a way that would make Shakespeare smile. However, underneath the broad comedy and visual gags, the show lacks a certain depth. Taken as a light-hearted romp, it is entertaining and engaging. However, don't expect it to leave you with a fresh perspective…All the characters save Othello, Iago, and Cassio are essentially one-dimensional punch-lines; they draw laughs, but lose the human complexity."
Edge New York - Recommended
"The show is created by the Q Brothers, meaning music, words and direction…Their ability to coalesce a tale and excite an audience is impressive. Everyone in this cast is not only supremely talented, but they seem as if they are having a blast and we lucky few get to watch and clap and groan at puns and just get happily awestruck. There is a wonderful harkening back to the original Shakespeare modality even though the words are magically modern."
NY Theatre Guide - Recommended
"The songs are of mixed quality, with a couple of showstoppers, but no real bad tunes. The choreography is not taken very seriously, but it is played more for laughs...The acting and rapping are more than up to the project. I was particularly pleased with Gregory James Qaiyum (aka GQ) as Iago...The main merit in this production is the way it is likely to attract a new generation to the theatre, and more specifically to Shakespeare."
Theater In The Now - Recommended
"Introduces a new sound to a story of betrayal, greed, and revenge...The piece kept a high-octane, dizzying pace. The rhymes were fast. The music was pulsating. It was a concise reimagining of 'Othello' that is nicely structured. The company has a strong comedic approach...It could have gone further and been even tighter...Nevertheless, consistency was prevalent...If you can't get a ticket to 'Hamilton,' 'Othello: the Remix' is the next best option."
Theater Pizzazz - Highly Recommended
"The rhythm hits hard and is brilliant in its presentation…They're par excellence as rappers, movers and shakers as the pacing moves quickly via the brilliance of GQ and JQ, who composed and direct this hot little production…During this uniquely clever and modern adaptation, they find time to engage the audience in their antics...This is a Shakespeare lesson for all ages. The energy level is high and higher and you'll laugh your way through this brand-new interpretation of the Bard."
Off Off Online - Recommended
"While there are a few questionable production choices, the massive amount of creative energy and impressive talent on display in 'Othello: The Remix' make it hard to resist...While 'The Remix's' moments of lowbrow humor obscure some of the textual beauty of the original, it is a worthy trade-off in the end…Overall 'Othello: The Remix' is worth seeing for its cast's verbal and physical dexterity and its smattering of guilty pleasure gags."
Times Square Chronicles - Recommended
"The tragedy of 'Othello' is told by a quintet of rap artists creating eight roles by using irresistible beats, fast-paced prose, and wildly inventive language blending rhyming couplets into humor-driven, tragic, touching and gripping theater for today's younger generation. This is Shakespeare for the streets…The cast is jammin' and off the chain, the directors and writers GQ and JQ know their crib and inhabit it body, mind and soul."
Musical Theater Review - Highly Recommended
"It takes on a powerful story and translates it brilliantly to hip hop terms...And it does it with a cast of just four astounding rapper/actors. A galvanising non-stop current of rhythmic beats and incisive rhyming jargon, the show is at times funny and ultimately gripping...Perhaps the ultimate strength of the show is how closely the four performers work together throughout its 80 minutes. It's like watching a top-notch team score repeatedly on an athletic field."
Broadway and Me - Recommended
"They've converted the remaining dialogue into rap couplets, a lot of them quite clever…Purists will miss the Bard's language but others will probably get a kick out of this high-spirited production. And even in the midst of all the zaniness, Postell Pringle still manages to convey Othello's nobility and his folly."
Diandra Reviews it All - Highly Recommended
"I was incredibly impressed by 'Othello: The Remix'...When I say impressed I do not only mean that I was inspired by this production, but I also felt taught by it...It is not every day that a take on this English masterpiece is fresh and enlightening upon the material. 'Othello: The Remix' shows not only the humor of this world-renown play, but also the darkness...I would highly recommend 'Othello: The Remix,' and hope everyone that can goes to see one of the best shows currently Off-Broadway."
Cervelli On Stage - Recommended
"The show is written, composed and directed by the immensely talented brothers GQ & JQ playing several roles along with two other excellent actors...The lyrics are fanciful and quite clever...The ingenious lyrics are sung with such clarity that you appreciate every reference. The writers have made necessary changes that work perfectly...A wryly comedic romp with ferociously dedicated performances makes this 'Othello' overwhelmingly enjoyable."
Broadway World - Recommended
"A fun and lively hip-hop retelling of Shakespeare's tragedy of racism and revenge...While 'Othello: The Remix' is certainly all in good fun, the two instances when the guys play female characters come off more as easy gags compared with the more fleshed out males. But the 80-minute romp is a high-energy kick, making a strong case for the elevated language rap to be a modern equivalent of Shakespeare's poetic verse."
