My experience as an audience member seeing The Arabian Nights was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed myself. I did see the show several times and from the moment I arrived into the News Journal Center each time, I was very excited and with someone new awaiting the see the wonderful production. My very first time seeing the production was the first Friday run; I came with my family and a friend. We were all excited to see what was in store. By the time we got there, we were immediately able to be seated. When I walked into the Gillespie theatre, the audience was full and I was amazed of how the set looked! I saw lots of hanging elaborate looking lamps that were so nice I heard people saying they wanted to take them; there were carpets and pillows surrounding the stage of all different yet Arabian inspired looks. There was even a bed in front of what looked like a balcony under a starry sky which I really liked. I paid attention to the set as did my family, they enjoyed it as well. I thought everything looked beautiful. Once the show started there was immediately a lot of music and dancing and instruments. I couldn’t contain myself I wanted to dance along. I watched around me and I saw the audience into it just as much as I was, and as an audience member myself I thought it was fun we were all clapping and participating together clapping along with the music. As far as sitting in the audience watching the show I was seated in the front row center on the left hand side so my point of view and focal points were different from where I was looking and paying attention. There were something’s I could not get the best view of so my so my interpretations of what I saw going on was probably slightly different from people sitting elsewhere. I had to really search the stage to see all the activity going on.
When I came the second time, I was able to sit a few rows up in the mid section of the theatre. I was just as amazed with everything and laughed at the same things and even saw and heard new things I didn’t hear before so the funny things were funnier and I was able to understand things I didn’t catch the first time. It made the show for me that much better than the first time I saw it. I noticed that there was an improve scene that changed from when I saw it before. I found that hilarious and it really shows in theatre that nothing is ever the same in a live performance. The audience really enjoyed the input with the improve as well. The laughter was loud and the incorporations of the modern day things I heard such as twilight and avatar where very enjoyed by the audience and myself.
The third and final time I went to see Arabian I have to say I was still just as excited as the first. I was with two friends and I sat on the right side of the theatre more to the centre. My friends were just as amazed with the set as I was. Once the show started they were into the performance and found it very funny and entertaining. Seeing as I had seen the show previously, I was able to point out to them different things that they might have not noticed from where they were so that they could enjoy the show to the fullest. I also noticed and heard different things once again that made me enjoy and understand the show that much better. Once I left the show each time I went, we discussed how we loved the music and dancing and that it was hilarious! There was still discussion about the awesome lamps too. Over all every time I went to see it I enjoyed it and didn’t get bored at all, as did the people I went with.
