Coming from the perspective of someone who has never been to a school play production, I will have to say that I was thoroughly impressed. The intriguing story captivated the hearts of the audience from the very beginning with an exotic and unique theme unseen in a Hercules High School production e. My verdict is that “Arabian Nights” is definitely a must-see, so come out and support talent that is just itching to be seen.
“One Thousand and One Nights,” better known as “Arabian Nights” in the West, is an agglomeration of tales dating back to ancient Mesopotamian times. The story takes place in the Middle East beginning with the Arab ruler Shahryar with an unhealthy obsession over virgin women; the crave for virgins begins when his wife is caught in her infidelity and he has her executed. From that point on, he establishes that women are all conniving vixens--nothing more, nothing less. He begins to marry virgins only to have them executed the morning after to prevent any unfaithfulness. As the kingdom runs short of virgins, Shahryar’s advisor Wazir offers his daughter, Scheherazade, as a last resort. On their wedding night, Scheherazade recites a tale for the king to hear, but abruptly ends it. In an attempt to hear the ending, the ruler postpones her execution. What should have lasted but a night becomes a legendary story lasting 1,001 nights.
Although the play in general was a success, there were actors and actresses that stood out among the rest. My personal favorite story was the tale of Sympathy the Learned. In Sympathy’s tale, a woman claimed to know all the secrets of the earth challenged the king’s intellectuals to a spontaneous debate with stakes at hand. If she is defeated, she may claim the robes of each sage in their respective fields, though if she is defeated, she would willingly become a slave. Sympathy, played by Jackey Genna, was quite amusing as she was the core of inspiration. Genna’s audacious attitude helped captivate the essence of the character--one of wit and grace. I was in awe at the long speeches that she had to memorize in addition to the snide tone that she had put into each and every line, a performance worthy of applause. We learn that at the end of the challenges, Sympathy suffered hardships and politely declined the king’s offer to become an advisor. Sympathy is such an inspirational character, because she shows that in a play where women are degraded time and time again, she is an exception. She shows that women do not have to be concubines to be brilliant and virtuous. Performances by Tenzin Tashitsang as Aziz, Alyanna Paulino as Azizah, and Keesan Nam as the Jester are to be shined upon as well. In Aziz and Azizah’s star-crossed romance, I found myself investing in the melancholic situation as Alyanna captured the sadness of unrequited love perfectly. The wails of a broken heart spoke volumes from both characters and I was pleased because they become characters that represent ideals that are continuous throughout history, does Romeo and Juliet ring a bell? Take it slow and steady, and learn something from the tragedy. Nevertheless, every play is not without comic relief. Keesan Nam’s portrayal of the Jester was spot-on for the entire performance. He utilizes his aloof nature quite well to characterize the Jester in a way that does not make him seem ignorant, but not exactly “all there.” The Jester’s role was able to lift some of the tension from the previous stories that revolved around death, and I found that to be a breath of fresh air.
The backdrop for the play was stunning, but I will not say I was not a little disappointed. With the help of Ms. Schrampf’s art students, the background of a sandy desert was quite realistic. The shadows and the night sky perfectly illustrated the atmosphere of an exotic region. The lighting from the balcony also helped to set a mood for particular scenes as the stage got darker in moments with tension and lighter in moments of bliss. On the other hand, the actual stage props were not up to par. The ribbons hanging from the middle seemed like paper bought for a birthday party, as well as painted cubes that were not symmetrical in the least. But, my disappointment for some of the props does not hold back the quality of the performance in the slightest, so it is something that can be easily overlooked.
When I went to see this play on a Thursday night, I was not expecting much, but left with a new sense of appreciation for the arts. Not only was the audience enthralled and full of reactions, but so was I. It was the most unexpected thing, because I am not typically someone to enjoy plays. Overall, this play is definitely one worth seeing. The story is amusing, the atmosphere enchanting, and the performers were more than just brilliant.