Iraj Rad to Direct a Foreign Play

Iraj Rad, who is playing in “Dr Mosaddegh’s Nightly Reports”, which is directed by Asghar Khalili, told irantheater.ir that he joined the piece after reading it.

“It is a report about the 1953 coup, which led to overthrow of Iran’s prime minister Mohammad Mosaddegh as well as his trial and surrounding events,” he said. “It stays away of political issues and related details. It has no political inclination and has not tried to exaggerate anything.”

“It is a report about the coup and some aspects of the historical event,” he stressed, adding that he was willing to experience working with a young director to get to know their perspective and way of rehearsal. “That’s why I decided to play in the piece.”

On his character in the play, Mr Rad said that the role of Roosevelt is report-like in Mr Khalili’s play. “The character situation and his laying the groundwork for the coup is clearly defined in the play,” he said. “As far as it is related to his character, I get familiar with him through two books about him, his visit to Iran and 1953 coup, meaning that based on his intelligence background and his visit to Iran, Roosevelt is familiar with political, geographic and social condition of Iran.”

In addition to the books, internet could help, he said. But the show had two scenes in which it directly pictures the character of Roosevelt, he added. “I have tried to be loyal to the real character of Roosevelt as far as the play lets me to act so.”

On reactions to in “Dr Mosadegh’s Nightly Reports”, Mr Rad said that he had told the director Khalili that he had not written any single criticism of the play. But it is well-received by the audience.

“Of course some people had different approach or expectation of 1956 coup but Asghar Khalili treated them well and I have seen anybody, dealing with the piece badly.”

On future plans, Mr Rad said that he had tried to leave some responsibilities in Theater House to others to make a space for directing a play this year. He did not disclose the play but said that it was written by a foreign playwright.