William Shakespeare’s “Othello” is a tragedy highlighting revenge, deceit and the darkest impulses humans possess. In The Groundling’s stunning production, on stage through April 14 at StageNorth Theatre, Washburn, it’s also a meditation on racial and class inequality.

The play is a love story gone terribly wrong. Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian senator, falls for the military general Othello, traditionally a Black man, and marries him secretly. Othello has promoted another ruling class military man, Cassio, to be his captain, which rankles the ensign Iago, who covets the promotion. Iago’s admiration of Othello turns to blind hate, setting in motion a plot to destroy Othello’s marriage, reputation, and career by convincing Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having a secret affair.