Matryoshka is a Persian-language satire based on selected short stories of Anton Chekhov, translated, written, and directed by Parsa Pirouzfar. The play has over 30 characters all performed by the playwright and the theatre director Parsa Pirouzfar in its theatrical production.
Contents
The play
Matryoshka first premiered on 13 September 2015 at Theatre West, as a solo performance, in Los Angeles. The play subsequently ran for two years in the US cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Berkeley as well as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal in Canada in 2015 and 2016; and finally, after multiple performances finished its staging in Tehran in Iran in 2017.
Matryoshka was particularly important to Parsa Pirouzfar's career. His performance playing over 30 characters of the play all by himself was unique. Matryoshka earned Parsa Pirouzfar the Golden Statue Award for Best Actor in the 35th Celebration of the annual Fajr International Theatre Festival in Tehran, Iran in 2017.
Episodes
The Death of a Government Clerk
How Dmitry Kuldarov became famous overnight? (Joy)
The Trial
Cyclothymia (or) Periodic Insanity
The Settlement (A Nincompoop)
A Noble Woman Who Left Us (In the Post Office)
A Masterpiece of Art (A Work of Art)
The Chameleon
Date of performances
United States
1st Performance: Theatre West, Los Angeles, 13, 20 and 27 September 2015
2nd Performance: Theatre West, Los Angeles, 9 January 2016
3rd Performance: AVO Playhouse, North County San Diego, 30 April 2016
4th Performance: Live Oak Theatre, Berkeley, 14 and 15 May 2016
Canada
1st Performance: Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, 2 October 2015
2nd Performance: D.B. Clarke Theatre, Montreal, 10 October 2015
3rd Performance: Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, 22 January 2016
4th Performance: Kay Meek Arts Centre, Vancouver, 24 April 2016
Iran
1st Performance: Iranshahr Amphitheatre (Tamashakhaneh Iranshahr), Tehran, From 5 September to 7 October 2016
2nd Performance: Paliz Amphitheatre (Tamashakhaneh Paliz), Tehran, From 1 November 2016 to 30 January 2017
3rd Performance: Paliz Amphitheatre (Tamashakhaneh Paliz), Tehran, From 30 July to 15 September 2017
4th Performance: Iranshahr Amphitheatre (Tamashakhaneh Iranshahr), Tehran, From 17 to 28 September 2017
Characters
1st episode:
Ivan Ivanovich Cherbiyakov
Pyotr Petrovich (Ivan's colleague)
General Brizyalov
Yuliya (Ivan's wife)
Dmitry Kuldarov (General Bryzjalov's secretary)
Zalikhvatsky (Chief of police, the character in Ivan's dream)
2nd episode:
Dmitry Kul'darov (Son)
Nikolay (Father)
Maman (Mother)
3rd episode:
Judge
Otchumiyelov (Inspector of the case)
Sidorchel Met'sov (the Accused)
Okhov (Lawyer)
Witness in the court (an old man)
Witness in the court (a woman)
4th episode:
Simiyon Maksimov (an old man in the bar, friend of Dmitry)
Dmitry Kul'darov
Piyotr Petrovich
Konderashkin (Nastenka's Father)
Doctor
5th episode:
Pre-production
Director: Parsa Pirouzfar
Playwright and Translator: Parsa Pirouzfar
Line producer: Noureddin Heidari Maher
Stage Designer: Parsa Pirouzfar
Costume Designer: Parsa Pirouzfar
Cast and Production
Actor: Parsa Pirouzfar (all roles)
Assistant director: Mohamad Goudarziyani
Executive Producer: Noureddin Heidari Maher
Assistant Costume Designer: Bahareh Mosadeqiyan
Stage Manager: Arash Safaei
Graphic Designer and Photographer: Sadeq Zarjouyan
Awards
The 35th 'Fajr Theatre Festival', 2017
Golden Statue Award for Best Actor in Matryoshka