Page From the Past: Iago and the Catfish
From “These Were Actors”
In the golden age of traveling stage shows, few families balanced the art of performance and the passion for fishing quite like the Chapmans. Born with both theatrical flair and a knack for wetting a line, the Chapmans often found themselves juggling spotlights and stringers. For George Chapman, the challenge wasn’t just playing roles—it was finding a way to act and fish at the same time.
George, a comedian by trade, had an unusual longing: to play the brooding villains of classic drama. One night, his dream came true when he was cast as Iago in a production of Othello. He spent the afternoon before curtain time doing what he loved best—catfishing.
The lines were out, but the fish weren’t cooperating. With minutes to spare before his entrance, George handed his rod off to a young stagehand while he put the finishing touches on his villainous makeup. When he returned, the boy had vanished. Unwilling to give up, George tied the fishing line to his ankle and stepped onto the stage.
Despite Othello tripping over the line early in the scene, the performance carried on. That is, until the moment the catfish struck.
George’s leg shot out from under him mid-monologue, sending him sprawling across the boards. Quick on his feet even when flat on his back, he improvised a line Shakespeare never penned: “My lord, in my great love for you I have gone too far. I will leave you one moment to your thoughts. Anon I will return.”
And off he went, in full costume, to haul in his fish.
What happened next would’ve brought down the house in any farce. The 50-pound catfish, not content with staying hooked, leapt into the boat. The sudden slack in the line sent George stumbling backward—right back onto the stage—dragging the thrashing fish behind him.
The show went on, but after that scene, Iago’s sinister plans lost some of their menace. It’s hard to take a villain seriously when he’s dripping wet and trailed by a catfish.
The story survives thanks to the George D. Ford book “These Were Actors: A Story of the Chapmans and the Drakes,” published in 1955, reminding us that in show business—and catfishing—you never know when the big one will strike.
