Arabian Nights Adapted by Ed Hayes University College Gardens until Saturday 26th May.

Arabian Nights has all the necessary components for a successful Garden Show. Ed Hayes' adaptation is a pacy ensemble piece, perfect for summer escapism, combining racy storytelling with an obviously enthusiastic cast.
The play is based around the story of Scheherezade (well played by Emma Clifton), who in her bid to escape from the misogynist Sultan Shahryar, (an excellent Indojit Banerji) resorts to telling elaborate yarns which leave him begging for more. Interweaved are the tales themselves - the Meddlesome Barber's soliloquy is particularly meddlesome.

The demand on the actors is high as directors Paul O'Mahony and Ed Hayes have concentrated on physical theatre (including mask work) which demands intense effort and concentration, further complicated as many of the cast have two or more roles. However, in general their standards are met.
Strong performances, such as Sam Bootle's peculiarly engaging hunchback and Crystal Sholts' meddling old woman, mean that, despite some minor glitches (hint: secure that hunch), none of the 'magic' is lost.

However, enchanting Aladdin-type storytelling it is not. Hayes's adaptation readily embraces the main preoccupation of 'Arabian Nights' - namely sex and lots of it. Concubines, a dirty tailor and a three foot phallus all feature prominently. Aging Dons and those of a delicate disposition beware! Nonetheless, the beautiful setting of the Master's Garden should provide an antedote to the bawdy excesses of the stories themselves. Univ's production is brash, fun, very very rude and full of eastern promise.....

Rose Foley
22-05-01