ATALLAH The Moor of Venice

A new version of Shakespeare ' s Othello, with a different plot and dialogue.

Atallah, The Moor of Venice differs from Othello in that it uses Shakespeare's characters in a different plot, utilizing also some elements from Cinthio's Italian original story, Un Capitano Moro, and introducing some new characters as well. In Atallah, the Moor is not a converted Christian but a faithful north-African Muslim with dark skin, not Negroid. He has a fittingly Arabic name: Atallah, which means 'Gift of God'. And in contrast to the puppet on a string that Othello is in the hands of Iago, Atallah is a more sober General in a more realistic play.