`Arabian Nights' adapted // Trinity Square to tell tales for 14 shows

Scherazade was a talker. She stretched out 200-some tales over1,001 Arabian nights to convince her sultan bridegroom not to haveher executed.

Trinity Square Ensemble has put together an original adaptation- Chicago's first, in recent memory - of "The Arabian Nights" thatwill run just 14 nights. The storytelling began Thursday night andwill continue through Aug. 30 at the Raven Theatre, 6931 N. Clark(328-0330).

"There is no script that we could locate," says Deborah Stewartof Trinity Square. "So our cast of six improvised. . . . We kept theArabian style and costumes, more or less, but this production isupdated in that it's not Moslem-oriented. We've taken out a lot ofthose references to appeal to a broader audience."

Also maintained have been the bawdy comedy and exotic magic ofthe original tales about Aladdin, Sinbad, Genii and other bizarrecharacters. Marge Uhlarik directs this "adult entertainment."

MEMORABLE: The Illinois Stage Company of Northern IllinoisUniversity and Pegasus Players are presenting Neil Simon'sautobiographical comedy "Brighton Beach Memoirs" for a short run.James O'Reilly, director of artistic development at Body PoliticTheater, is directing the show through Aug. 16 at the O'Rourke Centerfor the Performing Arts at Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson (271-2638).

CONVENTIONAL: Suzan Zeder's "Mother Hicks" was writtenespecially for children, but not only for children. Zeder's playsspeak to all ages.

The public is invited to join members of the AmericanAssociation of Theatre for Youth and the American Association forTheatre in Secondary Education, which are meeting this weekend atNorthwestern University, at performances of "Mother Hicks." The showopened Thursday night and will continue at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Sundayand Aug. 15 and 16 at the Ethel M. Barber Theater of the Theater andInterpretation Center, 1979 Sheridan, Evanston (491-7282). Rives B.Collins directs.

"Mother Hicks" tells the story of three social outcasts: adeaf-mute boy, a nameless orphan girl and the title character - anaccused witch. They find each other and a magic more powerful thanwitchcraft. Dean ("Dummy Hoy") Cannavino, deaf since birth, isfeatured as the boy. Three performances will be signed for thehearing impaired.

`ANNIE' UP: The winsome family musical about a winsome orphan'ssearch for her parents, with the help of Daddy Warbucks, will opentonight at the winsome Bethel Performing Arts Center, 3220 W. 98th,Evergreen Park (423-2730), and continue through Aug. 30. SusanPagels directs a cast of 52, assisted by music director CatherineKogut-Simon.

HAMMED-UP HAMLET: A black comedy set in the wacky world of astock exchange is the third show of the Playwrights' Center 1987season. "Hamlet, Prince of Wall Street" will open tonight for afive-week run at 3716 N. Clark (853-0505). This show, writer DougBinkley's second, recounts the mercurial brokerage career of HamletKingley II.

On Stage is a weekly column presenting highlights of theweekend's theater scene. Information may be sent to Joe Pixler incare of Chicago Sun-Times Features, 401 N. Wabash, Chicago 60611.Items to be considered for inclusion should be received at least twoweeks before publication.