 Olivier returned to the Old Vic for a second season in 1938 . For Othello he played Iago , with Richardson in the title role . Guthrie wanted to experiment with the theory that Iago 's villainy is driven by suppressed homosexual love for Othello . Olivier was willing to co @-@ operate , but Richardson was not ; audiences and most critics failed to spot the supposed motivation of Olivier 's Iago , and Richardson 's Othello seemed underpowered . After that comparative failure , the company had a success with Coriolanus starring Olivier in the title role . The notices were laudatory , mentioning him alongside great predecessors such as Edmund Kean , William Macready and Henry Irving . The actor Robert Speaight described it as " Olivier 's first incontestably great performance " . This was Olivier 's last appearance on a London stage for six years . 
 Olivier returned to the Old Vic for a second season in 1938 . For Othello he played Iago , with Richardson in the title role . Guthrie wanted to experiment with the theory that Iago <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>villainy is driven by suppressed homosexual love for Othello . Olivier was willing to co @-@ operate , but Richardson <a href='negative_concord' title='2'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>not</mark></a>; audiences and most critics failed to spot the supposed motivation of Olivier <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>Iago , and Richardson <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>Othello seemed underpowered . After that comparative failure , the company had a success with Coriolanus starring Olivier in the title role . The notices <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> laudatory , mentioning him alongside great predecessors such as Edmund Kean , William Macready and Henry Irving . The actor Robert Speaight described it as " Olivier <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>first incontestably great performance " . This was Olivier <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>last appearance on a London stage for six years . 
Olivier returned to the Old Vic fa a second season in 1938 . FfaOthello he played Iago , wit Richardson in da title role . Guthrie wanted to experiment with the theory dat Iago  villainy is driven by suppressed homosexual love fofirthello . Olivier was willing to co @-@ operate , but Richardson ain't ; audiences and most critics failed to spot the supposed motivation of Olivier  Iago , and Richardson  Othello seemed underpowered . After that comparative failure , tdacompany had a success with Coriolanus starring Olivier in thdaitle role . Thedatices was laudatory , mentioning him alongside great predecessors such as Edmund Kean , William Macready and Henry Irving . The daor Robert Speaight described it as " Olivier  first incontestably great performance " . This was Olivier  last appearance on a London stage for six years .