TEHRAN- Neauphle-le-Chateau Theater in Tehran will be playing host to a reading performance of the renowned Russian author Anton Chekhov’s play “The Bear: A Joke in One Act” on Saturday. 

The performance will be directed by Soheila Mofidi with a cast composed of Somayyeh Hosseini, Alireza Kiani, and Salim Najafi.

The play is set in Elena Ivanovna Popova's drawing room, seven months after her husband's death, during which she has remained isolated in mourning. Her footman, Luka, urges her to come out of her seclusion, but she insists on honoring her promise to her late husband. Their conversation is interrupted by Grigory Stepanovitch Smirnov, who demands repayment of a debt of 1,200 roubles owed by Popova’s husband. Frustrated by her inability to pay immediately, Smirnov mocks her prolonged mourning, sparking a heated argument that touches on themes of love and fidelity.

As their conflict escalates, Popova calls Smirnov a "coarse bear" and insults him, provoking him to challenge her to a duel. To his surprise, Popova accepts his challenge and retrieves her late husband's guns. Meanwhile, Smirnov finds himself inadvertently falling for her boldness. When she returns with the pistols, the tension shifts from hostility to attraction. As Luka returns with the gardener and coachman, they witness this unexpected turn of events. Thus, the play explores themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of confrontation. 

SAB/