Mona Farjad to stage Neil Simon’s “California Suite”

November 5, 2023 - 22:51

TEHRAN-Iranian actress and first-time director Mona Farjad will stage a play by the well-known American playwright Neil Simon at Iranshahr Theater Complex form November 8.

Farjad has selected Simon’s 1976 comedy “California Suite,” for her debut directorial work. However, the Persian edition, which will be performed at the Samandarian Hall, has been titled “A Room in the Hotel,” Mehr reported on Sunday.

The play is composed of four playlets set in Suite 203-04, which consists of a living room and an adjoining bedroom with an ensuite bath, in The Beverly Hills Hotel.

It's a humorous confection divided into four parts: “Visitor from New York,” “Visitor from Philadelphia,” “Visitors from London,” and “Visitors from Chicago”.

In “Visitor from New York,” Hannah Warren is a Manhattan workaholic who flies to Los Angeles to retrieve her teenage daughter Jenny after she leaves home to live with her successful screenwriter father William. The bickering, divorced couple is forced to decide what living arrangements are best for the girl.

Conservative, middle-aged businessman Marvin Michaels is the “Visitor from Philadelphia,” who awakens to discover a girl named Bunny is unconscious in his bed. With his wife Millie on her way up to the suite, he must find a way to conceal all traces of his uncharacteristic indiscretion.

The “Visitors from London” are British actress Diana Nichols, a first-time nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actress, and her husband Sidney, an antique dealer. The Oscar is an honor that could revive her faltering career, but Diana knows she doesn't have a chance of winning. She is in deep denial about the true nature of her marriage of convenience, and as she prepares for her moment in the spotlight, her mood fluctuates from hope to panic to despair.

The “Visitors from Chicago” are two affluent couples who are best friends. Stu Franklyn and his wife Gert and Mort Hollender and his wife Beth are taking a much-needed vacation together. Things begin to unravel quickly when Beth is hurt during a tennis match, and Mort accuses Stu of causing her injury.

Mona Farjad is also among the cast members along with Masoud Mirzad and Rozhano Arjmand.

Farjad, 39, began her career as an actress in 2002, starring in the series “Sunflower Farm”. She also starred in several TV Series and films as a child with her father Jalil Farjad. She has so far acted in more than 35 films, series and plays. In addition to acting, she also works as a dubbing artist.

SS/SAB