Egypt's El-Warsha Theatre is paying a visit on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The company's production of Tides of Night (Ghasir el-Leil) will play in the center's Plaza Tent April 23-26.

Tides of Night is based on a traditional Egyptian tale of love, honor, and revenge. In the story, the engaged Hassan falls in love with the beautiful Naima, daughter of a distinguished family who willingly goes with him. When Naima's family finds out, they trick and then slaughter Hassan. The unseen Naima, however, has witnessed the act and the crime is revealed to the village. El-Warsha offers a modern interpretation of the tale and relates it through traditional forms of language and mawal, a sort of Egyptian blues.

El-Warsha was founded in 1987 by Hassan El-Geretly, a English-educated, French-trained actor and director. He has adapted into Egyptian plays by Handke, Dario Fo, Harold Pinter, as well as Jarry's Ubu cycle. The company's visit is part of the Kennedy Center's ongoing African Odyssey series, a survey of the performing arts and cultures of continental Africa and the African diaspora of the United States, South America, and the Caribbean.

For information, call (202) 467-4600.

-- By Robert Simonson