TEHRAN- An adaptation of American playwright Tennessee Williams’ 1959 play “Sweet Bird of Youth” is scheduled to go on stage at Entezami Hall of the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) in Tehran on October 4. 

Hassan Asgari is the director of the play, which will remain on stage until October 25. 

Reza Afshar, Niloufar Bozorgi, Somayyeh Molai, Nazanin Naderpour, Delsa Karimzadeh and Amin Moqaddam are the main members of the cast for the play. 

“Sweet Bird of Youth” presents the poignant tale of Chance Wayne, a drifter and gigolo who returns to his hometown, St. Cloud, accompanied by a faded movie star, Alexandra del Lago—who is disguised as the enigmatic Princess Kosmonopolis. Chance, who harbors aspirations of breaking into the film industry, sees this trip as a way to reclaim his lost youth, particularly in rekindling his romance with his childhood sweetheart, Heavenly Finley. 

The narrative unfolds as Chance Wayne, having departed St. Cloud in pursuit of his dreams, struggles to carve out a successful career in the glitzy worlds of New York and Hollywood. However, after facing numerous failures in both acting and popularity, he resorts to becoming a gigolo, navigating life as an escort to wealthy women. His current companion, Alexandra del Lago, mirrors his own sense of lost potential; she is an aging, troubled actress who has fled from the harsh critiques of her latest film, seeking solace in a life of excess—alcohol, drugs, and fleeting relationships.

Upon recognizing del Lago while working at a Florida resort, Chance seizes the opportunity to escort her back to California, viewing her as his ticket to rekindling his past. As they travel along the Sunset Route, Chance envisions a reunion with Heavenly Finley, hoping to pull her into the world of fame he desperately yearns for. However, when they finally arrive back in St. Cloud, Chance comes to confront the harsh realities that have marred his idealized memories of Heavenly. Once vibrant and full of life, she is now a shadow of her former self, having suffered severe trauma after an unwanted pregnancy that led to a botched abortion and resulted in her infertility. Her father and brother harbor deep resentment toward Chance, threatening to exact revenge for the anguish he caused their family.

Armed with Alexandra's resources, Chance attempts to project an image of success to his old friends, who quickly see through his ruse. They recognize him not as a triumphant figure but as a man trapped in nostalgia and bitterness. Simultaneously, del Lago learns that the negative reviews she fled from were actually positive, marking her comeback as a triumph, further complicating Chance's illusions of shared success. Although del Lago urges Chance to continue as her escort, the reality sets in that she sees no future for him, especially as her life begins to turn around.

In this interplay of ambition and despair, Chance grapples with the reality of his fading youth and loss of direction. With nowhere else to turn, he ultimately decides to remain in St. Cloud, confronting the consequences of his past choices rather than escaping once more. “Sweet Bird of Youth” poignantly captures the complexities of dreams versus reality, the impact of time on one’s aspirations, and the painful truths that often lie beneath the surface of seemingly glamorous lives.

The play was initially crafted for the renowned actress Tallulah Bankhead, a close friend of Williams. The origins of “Sweet Bird of Youth” date back to 1956 when Williams first explored the story through two separate plays: a two-character piece featuring only Chance and the Princess, and a one-act play entitled “The Pink Bedroom,” which later evolved into the second act of the final work. This configuration allowed Williams to weave together themes of youth, ambition, and disillusionment.

SAB/