Chris Eldon Lee reviews ‘Arabian Nights’, which is at Shrewsbury’s Wightman Theatre in the Square until January 3rd.
So now Shrewsbury has two Christmas shows to be really proud of … and they couldn’t be more different.
‘Arabian Nights’, at the recently revived Wightman Theatre in the Square, is an intimate, thoroughly enjoyable and well considered evening of enticing short stories. With their thoughtful themes of greed, cruelty and bribery – and honesty, truth and redemption, they amount to an Eastern version of Brothers Grimm.
We see the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, hear about two Sindbads (one sailor, one potter), meet what must be the original ugly sisters, and sympathise with Abu Hassan, the man with an alarmingly loud fart. (The kids will love that one).
The difference is they are all wrapped up in an over-arching tale of a beautiful young story teller – the wise and bewitching Shahrazad – who has to come up with a fresh episode every night for fear her new usband, the King, will behead her in the morning. Some incentive! The line “you’ll never guess what happens next’ certainly comes in handy.
The multicultural cast of nine actors are universally excellent. The stories are not just told, but vividly shown; with precision and panache, music and magic, subtle sound and sensual choreography …. and considerable, quiet comedy. The “Dance of the Deadly Dagger” can only have one possible outcome; but the wit is in how the dirty deed is done.
The ensemble switch roles in a twinkling; turning themselves into giant pots, a beggar with nine lives, a clichéd French chef, a mad dog, a posse of wild horses and a dark eerie cavern. Every child knows the password to roll back the stone. So when the greedy thief stupidly forgets it, we are entertained to a string of failed attempts. “Open sardines! Open sausages! Oh dear!”
Director Sian Murray has drilled her team exceptionally well. The women shape-shift themselves into wave tossed sailing ships and wind blown boughs. …and there’s a most impressive giant puppet of a blue, bejewelled bird. It takes four actors to swoop it round the stage.
It’s a very honest, low-budget, up-market show of surprising substance. I suspect it will fire the imaginations and stoke the passions of every youngster; and may well spark a few family discussions on the rights and wrongs of life. And for we older folk, there is an exotic charm and traditional sense of old school justice in the proceedings; enough to warm the cockles.
It’s a calm, collected complement to the crash bang chaos across the river. And Shrewsbury, this Christmas, is blessed to have both.
Visit http://www.marchestheatre.co.uk for bookings & more information