I was speechless at this Iranian adapted version of Ivanov by Amir Reza Koohestani, not only because the whole interpretation was second to none, whith no particular actor being better than any other but also because the original play has been made contemporary and therefore more "approachable", despite being set in an Iranian type of social atmosphere, which doesn't differ that much from ours in what concerns nostalgia and a certain degree of passivity.
Farsi being the language of the ongoing dialogues made it sometimes difficult to follow the scene sequencing and reading the projected translation simultaneously, but it was nevertheless worth it. The overall stage atmosphere was one of a rather intimate rapport with the audience and the changing of stage scenary and lighting particularly well designed.
I should have immediately realised who Koohestani was because I had written down his name some years ago (never to forget) when mesmerised by his creation as I watched "dance on glasses" at the Cultural Centre in Lisboa. I didn't though, and it wasn't but when I was reading the brochure that I came across that reference, at least one the Portuguese public would easily relate to.
Farsi being the language of the ongoing dialogues made it sometimes difficult to follow the scene sequencing and reading the projected translation simultaneously, but it was nevertheless worth it. The overall stage atmosphere was one of a rather intimate rapport with the audience and the changing of stage scenary and lighting particularly well designed.
I should have immediately realised who Koohestani was because I had written down his name some years ago (never to forget) when mesmerised by his creation as I watched "dance on glasses" at the Cultural Centre in Lisboa. I didn't though, and it wasn't but when I was reading the brochure that I came across that reference, at least one the Portuguese public would easily relate to.
"What to do? Nothing. There is nothing to be done. A sofa. A bed. All body movements tend to a neutral immobility. Nothing announces the hope of a change. However something strange happens: there are some fugitive sequences of luminous scenes, just before the curtain closes, at the end of the acts. During these fragile instants, one can perceive the loneliness of the contemplative characters. Thes visions don't last because the possibility of dreaming is gone. But who knows, this spark of a dream, this unexpected search for a richer inner life will, maybe, bring back the hope of a better future." - Leyli Daryoush
Adapted version as from Anton Tchekov's Ivanov by David Hare and Senario setting - Amir Reza Koohestani
Actors:
Vahid Aghapour Azar
Reza Behboodi
Saeid Changizian
Fatemeh Fakhraee
Negar Javaherian
Fariba Kamran
Mohammadreza Najafi
Mohammadhassan Madjooni
Mahin Sadri
Scenary - Amirhossein Ghodsi and Amir Reza Koohestani
Costum design and subtitle setting - Negar Nemati
Music - Hooshyar Kahayan
Sound and light design - Mohammad Reza Hosseinzadeh
Stage manager - Mohammadhossein Nafariazad
Video and technical direction- Davoud Sadri
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