Arabian+Nights+(plp)

Patrick Pierson  ** Reasons __to__ attend // Arabian Nights // **  1. One of the most crucial reasons for going to see the production of // Arabian Nights //is the use of props. This play utilized nearly no props. Instead, characters served as props for one another throughout the play. If one has not viewed the play this may sound unbecoming, but it is very entertaining and creative. The cast did a wonderful job of playing the role of camels, boats, and a jail cell, just to name a few. It would have been easy for the performers to look past these seemingly trivial roles and not given much effort or attention towards executing these roles well. However, the performers maintained the intensity even in these roles. By doing so, they created some of the most hilarious and memorable parts of the night. The faces of actors portraying camels were one of the most engaging bits of the play. The performers’ embracing of the absurdity of the play made for an engaging experience that left the audience wanting more. This creativity and attention to detail made for an uproarious night at the theatre. 2. The versatility of the actors is another must see in this production. Because of the many stories that are told throughout the play, dozens of characters are needed to adequately relay all of these anecdotes to the audience. Although dozens of different characters are written into the script, the entire cast was comprised of only about 15 actors and actresses. Because of this, all of the performers, with just a few exceptions, played a variety of roles. This lead to there being no real lead in the play, because the play requires that all of the performers bring their “A-game”. It was amazing to watch this vast array of actors and actresses execute a number of roles, carrying the audience along with them through stories of fate, hysteria, morality, and much more. 3. The acting of Dane was one of, if not the, most captivating aspects of the play. Dane played a multitude of roles throughout the play, and performed all of them equally well. Although he spent much of the time in secondary roles, he stole the performance without a doubt. He engaged the audience and mesmerized the crowd with his facial engagement and the pure hilarity of many of his roles. He took this performance to another level, and it would not have been the same had he not been a part of the production. // 4. //A trip to see this play should also be taken just for the sake of enjoying all of the fun of the performance. The actors did a wonderful job, but it is also a wonderfully written play. There was never a dull moment, and the audience spent half of the night doubled-over in laughter. The actors executed things well, but it is important that we not underscore the work of the playwright in creating this piece. The acting was equally brilliant in // The Life and Times of Tulsa Lovechild: A Roadtrip //, but the play itself was not nearly as impressive to the audience members. There is only so much performers can do to make a “bad” play entertaining. What a blessing it is to view a well-written play executed with superb acting! 5. Although an intentionally funny work, this play also contains small sections of moral truths/questions. This adds another interesting quality to the play that helps to keep the audience mentally and emotionally engaged throughout the performance. This is especially prevalent during the narrative of the young girl who challenged all of the great scholars of the land. As a battle of intellects ensues, some interesting moral/spiritual/religious questions are posed. This part of the play provided an interesting contrast with the rest of the play, which is mostly filled with comedy. A refreshing, yet challenging, deviation from the comic side of the performance provides just one more reason for attending this production of // Arabian Nights //.  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Reasons __not to__ attend // Arabian Nights // ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">1. The longevity of the play is one of the reasons one should not make a trip to see this production. Although the play was entertaining, the whole storytelling aspect seemed to stretch itself slightly too thin towards the end of the play. So many stories are narrated by different characters that we often lose sight of exactly what is going on in the play. This leads to a bit of confusion and, at times, a general feel of, “Where exactly are they going with this?” The audience is sometimes left searching for a central focal point to tie all of these experiences to. The audience is carried away on the wings of peculiar stories that have no real connection to the central driving force behind all of this action. For that reason, I often found myself asking, “Does this scene really have anything to do with the play?” Although the many narratives and stories are entertaining, I simply felt confused at times. With so many characters and stories being intertwined into a single play with a limited number of actors, it is easy to get lost in the chaos. This left me with a sense of longing for a little bit more realism and/or a clearer picture of exactly what I was viewing. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">2. The over-the-top acting is another reason that one may wish to steer away from going to see this production. Although the play does call for extremely dramatic acting at times, I felt that it became almost distracting at a few points during the play. An example of this would be the story in which the wealthy man farts and then is shunned from his community. The whole scene came off as a little too ridiculous in my opinion. When taken too far, the acting seems to become eccentric and over the top. This serves well in some parts of the play, but when overused the effect is lost and the audience is left desiring something more concrete. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">3. One may also not wish to go see this performance due to the lack of props present in the play. Throughout the play, actors and actresses serve principally as props. This is interesting and certainly surprising, and the actors did a phenomenal job in these roles. However, some viewers may not enjoy having to stretch the imagination to such an extent. The play certainly calls for some creativity and imagination to be employed by the viewer. Some theatre-goers may simply not wish to be challenged, but might would rather see a play that is more realistic while still holding on to the comedic characteristics of the play. Viewers who are very logical and down to earth may not enjoy this play quite as much as other individuals. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">4. Many viewers may not wish to view this play simply due to its simplicity. Through the course of the play, none of the performers ever leave the performance space. Costume changes take place on the sides of the performance space, in relative darkness, and are quite minimal. This makes the play different from most other performances one would expect to see in a theatre setting. Some viewers may feel that this is too simplistic; others may feel that it is just right. Although not a major drawback, this may be a hindrance for some audience members. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">5. A final drawback for some theatre-goers may be the crude aspect of the play. In some parts, the performance becomes rather sexually crude. Especially in the scene involving the unsatisfied married woman who is sleeping with four men other than her husband. For the more prudish viewer, this may cause one to become uncomfortable or unnerved. This is something that should be kept in mind when considering whether or not to attend this performance.