The mission of the National Asian American Theater Co. (NATCO) since its founding in 1989 by Richard Eng and Mia Katigbak has been to "promote and support Asian American actors, directors, designers, and technicians through the performance of European and American classics." Spafford, of Filipino-Moor descent, visually plays as an outsider in comparison the rest of the cast. Unfortunately, his mediocre performance likewise sets him apart.

In terms of ethnic/racial inversion, the production echoes the photo-negative casting of the 1997-98 Othello production at the Landsburg in Washington, D.C., in which Patrick Stewart played the title character to an otherwise black cast. In such productions, references to Desdemona's "skin as white as alabaster," or the Duke's comment to Desdemona's father that "your son-in-law is far more fair than black," can't help but at least slightly draw the audience out of the action of the play. The effect may be similar to that of seeing Asian Americans preparing for a Bar Mitzvah in NATCO's critically acclaimed production of Falsettoland. Why create an all-Asian production of a play that is very specifically about a particular ethnic group? Or one that calls attention to ethnic difference? Perhaps the more useful question is: What's the effect of such a production?

In the case of the scene in which Othello murders Desdemona, the end effect is borderline comical. The beautiful Tina Horii's touching portrayal of Desdemona resonates a sweet, almost virginal innocence, with an angelic singing voice to match. This effect is further enhanced by her billowy, elegant white gown, a costume piece quite distinct from the colorful, gold-lamé accented pieces donned by the majority of the cast. (Designed by Elly van Horne, these stunning costumes support NATCO's mission of timelessness while creating a regal and particularly Asian flair.) Though Horii is light-skinned compared to her attendant Emilia (played with vim and vigor by Tess Lina), she is not quite "white as alabaster." What really upsets the white-dark contrast implicit in Shakespeare's language, however, is Spafford, who appears (presumably due to bad makeup) as if he's just acquired a deep orange tan via artificial means.