São Paulo – One is named Karina Muller. The other is named Glauce Carvalho. Both, together with Orlando Sales, have been coming onto the stage almost every week, since August this year, to portray stories to children in Arab style. The three actors and director Marcio Douglas arranged a play inspired on Arab classic “Arabian Nights”. Named “Maravilhosas Histórias para Albak” (Wonderful Stories for Albak), the play has been presented some thirty times in the state of São Paulo in 2009 and should have its last presentation next Saturday (19), in the city of Jacaréi, in the interior of São Paulo.
Albak means “heart” in colloquial Arabic and the storyline of “Maravilhosas Histórias para Albak” aims to touch the hearts of the little spectators. The play tells four stories. One of them is that of Amina, a girl who bought the world. The daughter of a sultan, she had a castle just to keep her purchases in. Then came the day she wanted to buy a little box she saw in the market. The owner did not want to sell her the box as it had sentimental value. After that, Amina travelled to the desert, hollow hearted, and learnt the value of things when she was given a small jar of water, so that she could return home.
Karina, Glauce, Orlando and Marcio also tell the story of Harun, the incomparable, Abud, the man nobody saw, and Badna, the princess who became a star. Actress Karina, who graduated in journalism, explains that the stories are not the same as the Arabic ones. “They are only inspired on the universe of the Arabian Nights,” said Karina. It all began with both actresses, Karina and Glauce, reading the book. The main influence of the Arabic tales, according to the journalist, is in the telling of the stories. “Our stories are everyday facts, which may take place anywhere, anytime,” she said.
However, in the play, the actors wear clothes in Arab style and also use Arab objects, like Tunisian jars. The music was developed by the cast, especially for the show, together with musical director Marcio de Oliveira. The three actors know how to play and sing. According to Karina, the play may be seen by kids of any age and tends to please adults. Several presentations were at schools, as the storyline is educational.
The theatre group that is promoting the spectacle is called Caixa de Histórias and is based in the city of São José dos Campos, in São Paulo. It basically includes Karina and Glauce. Orlando is a guest actor in play “Maravilhosas Histórias para Albak”. Both actresses set up Caixa de Histórias in 2005 and have already arranged five plays. Apart from this spectacle, the group has also presented “A Fabulosa Viagem de Duda e Lola em busca da irmã perdida ou…Cadê Kika?” (The Fabulous Trip of Duda and Lola in search of their lost sister or… Where’s Kika?), “Dita Onça e Cabra Rita” (Dita Panther and Rita Goat) and “Lurdes e Mércia em: As Estrelas do Oriente” (Lurdes and Mércia in: The Stars of the East). In the near future, play “A Casa de Dentro da Gente” (The House Within Us) should be enacted.
Service
Theatre Play
As Maravilhosas Histórias para Albak
Saturday, December 19th, at 4:00 pm
At Umberto Magnani Exhibition
Theatre Group
Caixa de Histórias
Telephone: (+55 12) 9712-8062
Site: www.caixadehistorias.com.br
E-mail: karinamuller@yahoo.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
