The Enchanting World of Arabian Nights
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 22:57 — avaish
Last week I, along with some friends, saw The Arabian Nights at the Berkeley Rep. This sumptuously produced play will transport you into a world of fantasy and fable – a Chandni Chowk of exotic wares from the Orient.
In ancient times there was a Persian King, Shahryar, who one day caught one of his brides in bed with a lover. He got so incensed that he killed her immediately, and then he got himself a new virgin wife each day and murdered her in the morning to prevent infidelity. When Sheherzade, the young beautiful daughter of his vizier, found out that it was her turn to marry him, she vowed to not let him kill her by telling him a magical tale each night, which she would leave unfinished at a critical juncture. The king would be so enrapt by the tale that he would stay her execution for another day to hear the end of the story. She thus told him a new story each day for 1001 nights and eventually won his heart permanently.
One Thousand and One Nights is a collection of these stories collected over many centuries by various authors, translators and scholars across the Middle East, Africa, and India. The stories are brilliant, energetic, exotic, funny, bawdy, and many times contain hidden wisdom and throw a light on the culture and philosophy of medieval times in Arabia and India.
The Berkeley Repertory Theatre is performing The Arabian Nights from November 14th to January 4th and it’s a fabulous production. It is almost three hours long but so mesmerizing that we did not notice the passing of time. In the cast is Pranidhi Varshney whose past theatre credits include Eve in Kama Sutra: The Musical at Theatre Building Chicago, and Pushpa in Silk Road Theatre Project’s Merchant on Venice and the title role in Lookingglass’ Sita Ram.
I strongly recommend the play to anyone who like me grew up reading the dreamy tales of the Arabian Nights, such as Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. Check out details at: