Musical+Casting+of+Cassio

"Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber Act 4, Scene 1 (When Iago convinces Othello of Cassio's fabricated affair with Desdemona)

**CASSIO** The worser that you give me the additionWhose want even kills me.


 * IAGO**Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on ’t.Now if this suit lay in Bianca’s powerHow quickly should you speed!

Phantom of the Opera begins to play

Alas, poor caitiff!
 * CASSIO**

Look how he laughs already!
 * OTHELLO**

I never knew woman love man so.
 * IAGO**

Alas, poor rogue, I think indeed she loves me.
 * CASSIO**

Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.
 * OTHELLO**

Do you hear, Cassio?
 * IAGO**


 * OTHELLO**    Now he importunes himTo tell it o'er. Go to, well said, well said.


 * IAGO**She gives it out that you shall marry her.Do you intend it?

Ha, ha, ha!
 * CASSIO**

**OTHELLO** Do ye triumph, Roman? Do you triumph?

I marry her! What? A customer? Prithee bear some charity to my wit. Do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!
 * CASSIO**

[MUSIC FADES]

**OTHELLO** So, so, so, so! They laugh that win!

Explanation: After being gullible enough to have lost his title of Lieutenant, Cassio's ability to be used only increases throughout the play. This is most evident when Iago puts him in harm's way as he convinces Othello that Cassio is having a secret affair with Desdemona. The song, "The Phantom of the Opera", fits perfectly with this situation. Not only do the lyrics preach a message of one person having power over another, but the enchanting and frightening melody also helps to convey the general effects of power and scheme used by Iago on Cassio. Furthermore, just as the Phantom of the Opera is inside the girl's mind, Iago is in the mind of Cassio and others, although the only people who know it yet is the audience. Finally, at the end of the song, the Phantom commands the girl to sing for him. This marks the conclusion of Cassio's misguided cooperation as Iago successfully exercises his command over him.