TEHRAN-An Iranian adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s play “The Seagull” is to be staged at the Iranshahr Theater Complex in Tehran from August 18.

The play has been written and directed by Mohammad Miraliakbari, who has changed the setting. In his adaptation, the story happens in Bandar Anzali in the north of Iran and deals with complex relationships of some theater and cinema artists, ILNA reported.

The cast includes Hossein Kashfi-Asl, Iman Mirhashemi, Mohsen Mirzakhani, Leila Shirmohammadi, Sharareh Ashouri, Mehran Moradi, Sheida Pahlevan, and Peyman Mohseni among others. 

The original play by the Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov was written in 1895. “The Seagull” is generally considered to be the first of his four major plays. The play deals with lost opportunities and the clash between generations. The main characters, all artists, are guests at a country estate. They are Mme Arkadina, a middle-aged actress; her lover, Trigorin, a successful writer; her son Konstantin, a writer; and Nina, a young aspiring actress whom Konstantin loves.

Like Chekhov's other full-length plays, “The Seagull” relies upon an ensemble cast of diverse, fully-developed characters. In contrast to the melodrama of mainstream 19th-century theatre, lurid actions (such as Konstantin's suicide attempts) are not shown onstage. Characters tend to speak in subtext rather than directly. The character Trigorin is considered one of Chekhov's greatest male roles.

This is Miraliakbari’s fourth adaptation of Chekhov’s works. Previously, the Iranian director had staged Iranian versions of “Cherry Orchard,” “Uncle Vanya,” and “Three Sisters”.

The 80-minute play will remain on stage for a month at Iranshahr Theater, located in Artists Park on North Mousavi Street, Taleqani Street.

SS/SAB