Simin Amirian to Iran Theater:
'Tree Frog and Cat the Instrument Player' Will Be Performed at Honar Theater Complex
'Tree Frog and Cat the Instrument Player' Will Be Performed at Honar Theater Complex 2
'Tree Frog and Cat the Instrument Player' Will Be Performed at Honar Theater Complex 3
Iran Theater: Simin Amirian is a writer, university instructor and theater director. She has written books and performed plays for children. 'Who Is the Smartest?', 'Little Granny' and 'Golgis' are among her published plays.
Simin Amirian is a graduate of Cinema and Theater Faculty, Art University and Tehran University's Fine Arts Faculty. Amirian has started her art career in 1986 with sculpting and painting. She started her career in 1991 as puppet maker and animator in Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Her first play is 'Tale of a Crow'. She has so far penned 27 plays, most of them translated in English.
Amirian has talked about her recent activities.
What is your new plan?
I am going to stage 'Tree Frog and Cat the Instrument Player' in Honar (Art) Theater Complex in Tehran after Children and Youth Theater Festival closed in Hamedan. I have written the play for children and young adults.
What doe tree frog mean?
They are small frogs which live most of their lives on trees. They are harmless and sing on trees when it is rainy. Some local Iranians say they bring good luck.
Is a frog your main character?
Yes. A Darvak, tree frog, is my main character. There are other characters such as Bilchepa, Syrian spadefoot toad.
Have you been interested to use real name of frogs in the nature?
Yes. Other than entertainment, it could teach children about animals.
Is the play about conflict between tree frogs and Syrian spadefoot toads?
Yes. Bilchepas kidnap Darvaks to make them to forced labor. But a mother Darvak gives tadpoles to an intellectual and literate frog, Niloo, to take them in another pond. But Niloo faces problems in her way, a naughty monkey, and a cat that plays instruments. Cat has traveled the world and can answer Niloo's questions and helps her to take the tadpoles to new pond.
What is your performance style?
The actors play with makeup and animal costumes. It is musical and has video projection.
When have you started rehearsals?
We have started since early October. The play will open on December 10. It will have performance until January 19.
Who are the cast and crew?
Fatemeh Amini, Hossein Pourkarimi, Benyamin Bakhshizadeh, Elmira Parsa, Soheil Panahi, Farshad Molaei, Soheil Karami and Raha Moghaddam (the cast), Zahra Yaghoubi (costume designer), Behnam Rahimi (composer), Soroush Parsa (Parkour), Hami Arabnia (lyrics), Mohammad Reza Alimardani (narrator), Maria Hajiha (makeup), Reza Arab (set designer), Aida Orang (public relations director).
Is Mohammad Reza Alimardani physically present in your play?
We have him in videos.