LAYLA MAJNUN till 27 July

Birmingham
mac, Cannon Hill Park, till 27 July
BO 0121 440 3838
Running Time: 2h 30m, one interval

Review: Rod Dungate 19 July 2003

Sharing diversity in an epic production
This is very much the time of year for community productions. mac (Birmingham's hugely busy and diverse arts centre has come up with something rather different. Working alongside Sampad (an organisation promoting and developing South Asian Arts) LAYLA MAJNUN is produced in mac's outdoor arena theatre.

The play is based on one of a trilogy of stories of Iranian origins it was absorbed into Punjabi literature. Director Harmage Singh Kalirai has worked on the two earlier stories and this one represents the conclusion.

The story is the universal one of love between a young man and a woman whose parents do not approve. A large open air production matches perfectly the epic nature of the story which has un-Western quirks and by-ways. Fascinating, too, is the conclusion: the lovers Layla and Majnun are reunited at the end only to die as they kiss. Death is seen as both a beginning and a freedom from the imprisoning bonds of this corporeal existence.

Stephen Levesley adapts the story: English mixes with Punjabi and Urdu without sacrificing at any point clarity. The mixture is potent, cultures are shared in an exciting way. Occasionally Levesley's English text (particularly in the 'poetic' sections) becomes a little self-conscious but his effect of mixing the poetic with the totally modern and streetwise works a treat.

Amit Arroz (the poet Majnun) and Hema Mangoo (Layla) are a touching couple with Jay Deb and Anuradha Sharma (Dervish and his Wife/ Keeper) providing some light (and at time deliciously cynical) relief. Narrator, Irvine Iqbal, guides us through with ease aided and abetted by a charming apprentice whose name I can't discover.

Musicians and dancers ensure this is a great event.

Stage Adaptation: Stephen Levesley
Director: Harmage Singh Kalirai
Choreography: Piali Ray
Music: Kuljit Bhamra
Design: Claire Lyth
Lyrics Translated and adapted into Urdu: Preet Nihal

Actors: Irvine Iqbal, Hema Mangoo, Amit Arroz, Satnam Bhogal, Roger Jones, Sarah Gordon, Rahual Das, Balbir Rallmil, Dharmesh Rajput, Titiksha Shah, Sukhi Bart, Nishal Chauhan, Mohammed Tofayel Sattar, Arjun Singh Panam, Jay Deb, Anuradha Sharma, Tarek Chowdhury, Suhel Ahmed, Jish Das, Val Singh, Asif Masud, Sapna Rani Chanda, Tanya Shah, Sukhninder Deol, Farida Yasmin

2003-07-21 09:24:52