![]() Today’s headliner is Cristy Lane, whose gospel album, “One Day at a Time,” had more than 4 million sales. “You’ll never see anything like this on the stage in Los Angeles,” says Harlowe, who adds that the “Arabian Nights Fantasy” draws an audience of 6,000 almost every night.Ĭrowds also gather to see the professional entertainers, who appear twice daily on the Arabian Nights stage. A smoke bomb announces the appearance of the great genie, and he tips the princess off that the slave is really Aladdin, the true prince. It’s about a pretender trying to take over the throne by marrying Princess Shalimar, who’s in love with a slave. There is plenty of action in this year’s tale. “Years ago we had authentic Arabian dances,” Harlowe says, “but the audience got restless, so now the production has become more flamboyant.” She’s been part of the show for 29 years and now is a soloist who plays a leading role as the queen, Calipha Nuzhet al Fuad. ![]() More than 75 area residents are in the cast and choir, including Gwen Harlowe, a convalescent-home social director. That hourlong musical is another favorite of festival visitors, who watch the fairy tale performed on an outdoor stage built to resemble a marketplace in old Baghdad. Some of Hedrick’s animals will be in the date festival parade along Indio’s streets Monday morning, and every night one of his elephants, a llama, three camels and an Arabian horse appear on stage in the pageant. “Kids really go for the kangaroo in the fair’s petting zoo.” He also offers camel and elephant rides. “I bring 90 or so exotic and domestic animals to the festival,” Hedrick said. ![]() In between races, a llama, zebra and an Arabian horse show some tricks they’ve been taught by Hedrick and his animal trainers. ![]() Riders in Arabian costumes also rock around the course on the humps of camels, who seem to have minds of their own once they leave the starting gates. ![]()
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