JEDDAH, 21 April 2006 — For the first time in Jeddah, a drama group staged its play before a mixed audience — men and women — for two consecutive days.

The play “Serenity Land” was for children, who flocked the auditorium at the entertainment center in Sawary Landmark mall Wednesday night. Usually the Jeddah drama group, “Saudi Society of Arts and Culture,” stages its plays at the Science College in King Abdul Aziz Theater.

They do so because the society lacks a stage and also because the drama group manager Abdullah Bahttab is the students’ activities manager at the KAAU.

But as the theater is in the male section of the university, women are not allowed. “Currently the KAAU stage is under maintenance, so we decided to enact the play at a private stage,” said Bahttab.

Actors from the Jeddah drama group performed in the play that was written by Ziyad Ghazal and directed by Ahmad Daboush.

It was open for public free of charge on Tuesday and Wednesday. The attendance was thin on Tuesday being a working day, but on Wednesday the auditorium was packed with men, women and, of course children.

People who came a few minutes late could not find a place to sit. Many latecomers had to sit on the steps and between the rows. “It’s strange to see adults equal in number to that of children and as enthusiastic as the kids,” said Zuhra Hammish, who came to watch the play.

The audience responded overwhelmingly. They clapped, laughed and even whistled. There where whispers eulogizing the performance of the actors.

“They are actually good, their acting is superb,” one woman said. While the children watched the play silently, the adults seemed to enjoy the show more as they pointed and commented on funny sketches.

The minute the play ended children rushed to the stage and took pictures with the six monkeys — the actors — who took off their masks as they bowed to the audience.

The play featured six monkeys who were frightened by the illusion of a monster that they thought lived on the mountains and could take their lives any minute. They realized at the end that such a demon did not exist.

This play, whose theme was, “fighting the inner fear in us” might boost the Jeddah drama group’s constant struggle for survival in the face of limited support from the authorities.