Author Publication date 1983 Playwright Bahram Beyzai ISBN 9781568592763 Published in english 2010 | Originally published 1983 Genre Play Country Iran | |
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Original title خاطرات هنرپیشهٔ نقش دوم Translator Mohammad Reza Ghanoonparvar Publisher Damavand Publishing (Iran)Mazda Publishers (US) | ||
Memoirs of the Actor in a Supporting Role (1983) is a play by Bahram Beyzai. It is set in Tehran during the 1979 revolution.
Contents
Text
The play was written in 1982 and first published in the spring of 1983 by Damavand Publishing House; which has been its only licensed publication in Persian. In 2010 it was published in the United States in Mohammad Reza Ghanoonparvar's English translation.
Plot
The play recounts the urban adventures of two male villagers (named Mowhebat and Zolfaqar) in Tehran during the earlier stages of street demonstrations in the 1979 revolution. Driven by drought and indigence, the two arrive in the large city in the latter months of the shah's rule in order to seek employment. They end up as hirelings in large crowds of mercenary vagabonds demonstrating against revolutionaries. Each day they dress up as workers, party members, students, parents of demonstrating students protesting against their own rebellious children, etc. Their unwittingly reactionary occupation in troubled times adds up to catastrophic consequences.
Performance
The play has never been directed and produced by the playwright. Yet, other notable performances include the 2003 autumn production in Tehran directed by Hadi Marzban with a cast of 42 and with Farzaneh Kaboli in one of the leading roles.
In Other Languages
The play was translated into English by Mohammad Reza Ghanoonparvar and published in 2010 in the United States: