The urge to tell stories is an ancient one, and one of the most universally recognized examples of the art is the fabled One Thousand and One Nights or The Arabian Nights. Mary Zimmerman adapted the story for the stage, and it is now unfolding at Longstreet Theatre courtesy of Theatre South Carolina.

The story’s hook is irresistible: cuckolded sheikh takes revenge on his unfaithful wife by wedding and murdering a virgin nightly. These grotesque goings-on continue until Scheherezade comes along. Spinning an endless series of tales, she miraculously manages to forestall her fate by keeping the sheikh spellbound and thereby keeping herself alive.

We, the audience, along with the murderous bridegroom, are supposed to hang on every word. It doesn’t quite work out that way all the time because of the vocal insufficiency of a number of cast members, but there’s enchantment enough to suffice.

The story’s hook is irresistible: cuckolded sheikh takes revenge on his unfaithful wife by wedding and murdering a virgin nightly.

Director Amy Boyce Holtcamp has staged the tale in an inventive fashion, with striking images that take advantage of Longstreet’s arena space. The focal conceit is a fabulously ruined library, an apt metaphor that transports us from Baghdad palace to merchant’s shop to Cairo street and even India. This reminds us of the vast extent of the medieval caliphate that was the milieu of these fables. With its bawdiness and sometimes scatological language, these Arabian Nights might put you more in mind of Chaucer or at least the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam than puritanical, modern Islamic culture. To say the least, this production would not have a very long run in present day Baghdad or Tehran.

Outstanding in the large cast are LaToya Codner as the storyteller, Lin Ying as her devoted sister and Trey Hobbs, Ryan Krause, Dillon Ingram, Ashton Langham and Samuel Traquina in their various roles.

Heather Abraham designed the multi-leveled set. Amy Thomson’s costumes add greatly to the visual appeal. As you’d expect, there’s a good amount of dance (the hilarious “family dance” is outstanding) under the direction of Victor Holtcamp.

Familiar though it is through so many renditions, The Arabian Nights still weaves a potent spell. A lot earthier than Disney’s Aladdin ever dared to be, The Arabian Nights can be considered a true fairy tale for adults. 


Performances are Feb. 24-26 at 8 p.m.; Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $16 for the general public; $14 for faculty, staff and active military; and $10 for students. Call 777-2551 to order.