Not Good to Copycat American and European Movies!

Mr Sadeghi is teaching theater in the universities, writing and translating plays, as well as articles. He had delivered speeches in various international and domestic events.

"Pearl" is written and directed by Mr Sadeghi. The 55-minute play has started in Iranshahr Theater Complex on May 19. It tells the story of Mongol invasion of the country. Maneli Hosseinpour, Soroush Taheri, Mohammad Reza Azadfar and Shima Hakimpour play in the show.

Parastou Alizadeh is assistant director, Moghadi Shamirian costume designer, Mehdi Hassani composer, Mehdi Davaei poster designer, Akhtar Tajik and Kourosh Barzi photographers, Market Theater Group advertisement and Amir Parsaeian Mehr the public relations office.

Dr Sadeghi tells more about "Pearl" to irantheater.ir.

You have acted in television series such as "The English Briefcase" and "The Enigma of the Shah". Do you see acting as a profession of yourself?  

No. My main profession is writing and directing. I play some roles often, especially those which are away from my character. Most actors play roles which are close to their personalities. But I think the actor must distance from his own character in his role otherwise he will repeat himself like John Wayne in Western movies.

Was performing "Pearl" among your top priorities this year?

No. I had another play in my mind. We rehearsed for it but some members of the group had to go abroad three weeks before the start of the performance.

Had they coordinated with you?

No. They asked me to postpone the show. But I did not accept. Some friends suggested me to perform another play and I chose "Pearl".

Do you see "Pearl" a continuation of your historical approach in theater?

I have always been interested in history and had performed "Seven Tribes of Love". History is one of the paths to get closer to a national theater, Iranian life and Iranian human. Most plays on stages are a copycat of European and American works. I have seen this measure is getting worse and some colleagues adapted [US and European] movies for performance. It seems we do not have such a rich history and literature and have turned into an interpreter of others.

Does audience welcome such plays?

It has a reason. They invite popular television and cinema artists to play. It seems they have entered from the world of trade into the world of art and culture clandestinely. Hundreds of such sold-out plays do not help Iran Theater. They are like disposable tissues.  

One of the good points of Iranians which are well said in your play is that they absorb the culture of invaders into theirs immediately after each invasion.

This is the sole art of Iranians and it is not minor. It is the best job Iranians had done throughout history, Mongols killed over 6m Iranians over 800 years. It is equal to 600m individuals in today's calculation. I reflected this elements of resistance in the character of a wise and prudent Iranian woman.

The woman will become a victim at the end of the play too.

No problem. It is important that she has translated fear into bravery and wisdom.