Perhaps you know the tale. In order to save her life, Sheherazade starts spinning stories for the vengeful King Shahriyar. One story leads to another that leads to another, on and on for 1,001 nights. For the scholar Robert Irwin, Sheherazade's plight is our own, for what are our lives but stories related to countless other stories, all told under the shadow of death, the terminator of all stories? Irwin joins us Thursday as we explore the world of the Arabian Nights and ask what they can offer us today.
Robert Irwin is the author of many books, including The Arabian Nights: A Companion. He wrote the introductions for a three-volume new translation of the Arabian Nights published by Penguin Classics. His latest book is Tales of the Marvellous and News of the Strange [Amazon|Indiebound].
Ballet West is staging Aladdin April 3rd through April 5th at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Salt Lake City. For tickets and information, call 801-355-ARTS or click here.