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ALI BABA: | Let’s take a breather. What’s that you’ve got in your bag? |
MUSTAFA: | (Taking out a thermos flask) Oh, Mistress Fatima lent me her thermos flask. |
ALI BABA: | Hey, that’s great! |
MUSTAFA: | (Proudly) It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold! |
ALI BABA: | Yes, I know – and what have you got in it? |
MUSTAFA: | Hot chicken soup … |
ALI BABA: | (In anticipation) Mmm! |
MUSTAFA: | … and a couple of choc-ices! |
(ALI BABA reacts in disappointment. Then a chant sung off-stage by the FORTY THIEVES and/or SFX of horses’ hooves are heard.) | |
ALI BABA: | Listen, someone’s approaching. |
MUSTAFA: | What, out here in the middle of nowhere? |
ALI BABA: | Quite a gang by the sounds of it. |
MUSTAFA: | Quick – hide! |
(BOTH run off DSL.) | |
MUSIC: | Number for the Thieves’ Entrance (ASBAD and THIEVES) |
(ASBAD and the THIEVES, consisting of the CHORUS plus BASHIM and GRABBIT, enter SR, or through the auditorium, for a short rousing number.) | |
ASBAD: | Well done, my men – that was a raid to be proud of! And what better way to welcome our two new members, Bashim and Grabbit? |
BASHIM: | (Approaching Asbad) I think I’m going to enjoy my new job as one of your in-laws! |
ASBAD: | In-laws? You mean outlaws, stupid! … Oh, I can’t wait until you two are trained robbers. |
GRABIT: | You mean like Ronnie Biggs? |
ASBAD: | No – trained robbers, not train robbers! |
BASHIM: | (Also to Asbad) And by the way, I didn’t see that bacon tree you told us about back there. |
ASBAD | Bacon tree? |
GRABIT: | Don’t be daft, Bashim – he said an "ambush", not a "ham bush"! |
ASBAD: | (Bemused, to audience) Ever heard the saying “As thick as thieves”? These two give it a whole new meaning, don’t they? (To the Thieves:) Now, come on men, bring me all the booty – I can’t wait to show it to the Evil Queen when she arrives. |
(The THIEVES start to bring sacks of riches from off-stage SR to outside the cave entrance USL. Thunder SFX as lights change to a sinister state and ALSATIA enters DSL.) | |
ALSATIA: | (Inspecting the loot) My, my, Asbad – we have done well for ourselves, haven’t we? |
ASBAD: | We do aim to please, your Evilness. |
ALSATIA: | Well, don’t just stand there gloating – get it stashed away with the rest of our stockpile. |
ASBAD: | Okay, chum. |
ALSATIA: | Don’t call me Chum. I’m not a dog’s dinner! |
ASBAD: | Oh, sorry, Pal! (He sniggers to the audience.) |
ALSATIA: | That’ll do! Show some respect for my Pedigree! |
ASBAD: | Yes, of course – when at Crufts, you do tend to “win a lot”! (Aside, to audience:) Winalot! |
ALI BABA: | A woodcutter. (Can either be played by male, or female as Principal Boy) |
FATIMA FANDANGO: | Pantomime Dame, a former belly dancer. (Obviously, best played by a man) |
MARJANA: | Ali Baba’s slave girl, loyal and clever. (Female) |
MUSTAFA SCREWLOOSE: | Fatima’s house boy. (Probably male, but could be played by female) |
PRINCE HAROUN: | Typical Prince character. (Usually male, but could be played by female) |
PRINCESS JASMINE: | The Princess from Cairo, intended future bride of the Prince. (Female) |
ASBAD: | The King of Thieves, leader of the Forty Thieves. (Male) |
BASHIM & GRABBIT: |
Two scoundrels who are recruited by Asbad. Typical panto-style comedy twosome. (Either can be male or female) |
ALSATIA: | The Evil Queen of the East – immortal canine-themed baddie. (Female) |
CATERINA: | The Good Spirit of Arabia – immortal feline-themed fairy. (Female) |
SCHEHERAZADE: | Storyteller. (Female) |
THE SULTAN: | The Ruler of Old Baghdad. (Male) |
THE GRAND VIZIER: | Royal official, Scheherazade’s father. (Male – smaller part) |
CHORUS: | Citizens of Old Baghdad (at the start of each Act) The Thieves (in other scenes) 2 or 3 Female Chorus also play Hand Maidens to the Princess |
DANCERS: | Featured in musical numbers as desired. Also play the Spirits of the Cave, the Royal Entourage and perform the optional ultra-violet scene. |
ACT I | |
Prologue: | Eastern Promise (Front cloth, DS gauze or front of Tabs) |
Scene 1 : | The Bazaar in Old Baghdad (Full stage Eastern market place scene, with stalls) |
Scene 2 : | Scheherazade’s Tale Unfolds (Front of Tabs or front cloth scene) |
Scene 3 : | A Clearing in the Forest (Full stage scene with cave opening) |
Scene 4 : | Fatima’s Kitchen (Half-stage scene with front cloth or MS Tabs) |
Scene 5 : | [Optional] The Magic of the East (MS black Tabs – UV scene) |
Scene 6 : | Within the Secret Cave (Full stage cave interior scene) |
ACT II | |
Scene 1 : | Back in Old Baghdad (Full stage, as Act I Scene 1, without market stalls) |
Scene 2 : | The Fake Sheikh (Front of Tabs or front cloth scene) |
Scene 3 : | The Royal Courtyard (Full stage exterior scene. See note below) |
Scene 4 : | Later, Outside the Palace (Front of Tabs or front cloth scene) |
Scene 5 : | The Banqueting Hall (Full stage interior scene) |
Scene 6 : | Mustafa Sing-Song (Front of Tabs) |
Scene 7 : | Happy Eastern Endings (Full stage Finale, as Act II Scene 1 or 5) |
Note re Staging:
It is possible to avoid one full stage set, playing Act II Scene 3 in the market place, as Act II Scene 1. In this case, just 4 different full stage scenes are required, plus a Kitchen front cloth or a set of mid-stage Tabs. However, for a slightly shorter version of this script needing only 2 full stage sets, please order the “youth version” as described above.
On the other hand, there are plenty of opportunities in this script for the more ambitious, who will have 5 full stage scenes and use front cloths for some or all of the front of Tabs scenes.