TEHRAN-The one-act play “Sure Thing” written by the American playwright David Ives and directed by Iman Iranmanesh is performed at the coffee shop of the main hall of Tehran’s City Theater, the first environmental theater at the art complex in 10 years.

“Sure Thing” is a short comic play revolves around a chance meeting of two characters, Betty and Bill, whose conversation is continually reset by the use of a ringing bell, starting over when one of them responds negatively to the other.

Iranmanesh also acts along with Fatemeh Zahiri in the 30-minute play, which will be performed until November 12, IRNA reported.

On the surface Ives’ “Sure Thing” is a play about two strangers who meet, fall in love and live happily ever after. When analyzed in more depth, the play is actually about the struggle that exists between one’s desire to be an individual and the need to conform, to a certain degree, in order to be part of a couple.

The play exposes and discusses the tension that exists between the value of being an individual and value associated with being in love. Love holds the promise that you will always have someone there for you and that you will always have someone to share everything with. However, to realize this love one has to make sacrifices in the process and potentially change who they are.

Environmental theater is a branch of the New Theatre movement of the 1960s that aimed to heighten audience awareness of theatre by eliminating the distinction between the audience’s and the actors’ space.

An environmental theater is a type of theater that is performed in an open-air environment. The performance may be based on a particular theme or story, but it is not limited to a specific plot or script. The main goal of environmental theater is to engage the audience in a shared experience that is both entertaining and educational. 

One of the benefits of environmental theater is that it allows for a more immersive experience for the audience. They are not just watching the action unfold on stage, but they are also surrounded by the set and the other elements of the performance. This can create a more powerful and emotive reaction in the audience, as they feel more connected to the story and the characters.

Another benefit of environmental theater is that it is more accessible than traditional theater. It does not require a special venue or expensive tickets, and it can be enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds. This makes it an ideal way to reach out to new audiences and to promote environmental awareness. Environmental theater can take many different forms, but at its heart, it is about using the natural world as a backdrop for performance and storytelling. Whether it is a small community event or a large-scale production, environmental theater is a unique and powerful way to engage with an audience.

SS/SAB