Blair Academy Players Perform Zimmerman’s Arabian Nights

The Blair Academy Players performed Mary Zimmerman’s The Arabian Nights in the Robert J. Evans Open Air Theatre on May 13, 14 and 15.

According to director Craig Evans, “Zimmerman’s rich adaptation combines several of the 1,001 tales into an exciting evening of storytelling. While many know the tale of Aladdin, few know even the framework of the story, that King Shahryar (played by senior Freddy Knight) has been betrayed by his queen and a servant, and thus reacts by marrying, loving and killing a young woman each night—until he encounters Scheherezade (played by junior Abigail Salzberg). For one thousand and one nights, she delays her murder by telling her tales of love, lust, comedy and heartbreak (with the aid of the rest of the cast of 20 actors). The final scene brought the audience back to modern-day Baghdad, reminding us of the tragedy still occurring in that fabled city. Zimmerman, the playwright of Metamorphoses (produced by the Academy Players two years ago), The Odyssey and Argonautika, has proven one of the most innovative artists in theatre today. The production was student directed by junior Kiara Vaughn.”

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Updated 5/17/2010

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