The literal conventions in Othello provide a great base for the play. It's setting, Venice and Cyprus, very real places, plus the conventions of the traditions found therein such as having Othello, a Moor, be the head honcho-y war guy is also factual. The love between a man and a woman and betrayal and human emotions also win a point for "realism." However, what makes this a Shakespearean play, or just a play in general and thus more entertaining than real people cheating or not cheating or killing or not killing are the non-realistic conventions such as Iago's asides (you can't hear me, so I'm going to tell the group of people watching us what I'm thinking, teehee!). Not to mention, we've got ourselves some over-the-top characters like Iago and his paranoia, and Othello and his paranoia that ultimately causes his fall from grace. People speak plainly when they're wounded rather than "AHHHH MAH LEEEEGG!" And the fact that Iago has everyone fooled into thinking he's a pretty cool dude is highly unlikely, but fun to assume for the sake of Ye Olde Theatre.
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