Beast on the Moon by Richard Kalinowski is back on stage again by Persona Theatre Company Group
Beast on the Moon – Performed by special agreement with Susan Schulman Literary Agency 454 West 44th St. New York, NY. 10036.
After the gradual release of the prohibitive measures on account of the pandemic, Persona Theatre Group returns with new dates of performances to present Richard Kalinowski’s aclaimed play ‘Beast on the Moon’, directed by Lea Maleni. The play, which is based on real events, addresses the life of a young couple from historic Armenia who emigrated to America after the Armenian genocide in 1915. The perfomances start again on Friday 19th February, at 18:00 in Wherehaus 612 in Nicosia.
The play, though performed before the public for only two days, has received very appreciative comments from both the public and the critics. Demetris Tarlows signs the translation, set and costume is designed by Sose Eskidjian, music and soundscape created by Nectarios Rodosthenous and Carolina Spyrou designed the lights. Eleni Anastasiou as assistant director and Annie Vassileiou as set design assistant. The cast: Panayiota Papageorgiou, Thanasis Georgiou, Manolis Michaelides, Angelos Hadjimichael.
Perfomances are under the auspices of his Eminence the Armenian Archbishop in Cyprus Khoren Doghramadjian and under the High Protection of the Armenian representative in the parliament Mr. Vartkes Mahdessian.
A few words on the play:
This is the story of Aram and Seta in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA between 1921 and 1933. Aram is the sole survivor of his family from the Armenian genocide. He fled to the USA and works as a photographer. He finds Seta, his mail order bride, who at the age of 15 arrives to the USA for a new life, leaving behind the orphanage in Constantinople. Her face is added next to that of Aram in an old family photo which Aram brought with him from his homeland and has cut off the faces of his dead family members. The place of his parents in the photo is now taken by the newlywed couple. And with his new bride Aram eagerly waits to build the new Tomasian family. However, things are not going to happen as he plans.
The matter of immigrants or more precisely refugees, people who violently against their will were forced to leave behind them destroyed homelands without hope of return, doesn’t only concern 1915 Armenians. Violent eradications and chaotic fleeing of sevillians unfortunately constitute a tragic repeated pattern in the history of humanity, which in our day has taken worldwide dimensions with bloody warfares in the Middle East.
Aram and Seta’s story, consistent and repeated, speaks directly to our hearts about the agony of those people to continue the history of their forefathers, claiming to live in a foreign land. And even if things often don’t come as we dreamed in life it is sufficient that we take the opportunity to save someone else’s life softening the unhealed trauma that leaves behind the loss of belonging.
Creative Team:
Translation: Demetris Tarlow
Director: Lea Maleni
Set and Costume Design: Sosse Eskidjian
Music/Soundscape: Nectarios Rodosthenous
Lighting Design: Carolina Spyrou
Assistant Director: Eleni Anastasiou
Set Design Assistant: Annie Vassileiou
Cast (in order of appearance):
Manolis Michaelides
Thanasis Georgiou
Panayiota Papageorgiou
Angelos Hadjimichael
Performances:
Friday 19th and Saturday 20th of February, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of February,
Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of March, Saturday13th and Sunday 14th of March,
Green Monday 15th of March, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st of March,
and Thursday 25th of March 2021.
Time: 18:00
Venue: Wherehaus 612, 5 Michael Kousoulides, Pallouriotissa Industrial Area, Nicosia.
Presales: www.tickethour.com.cy and at all ACS Courier outlets.
Reservations & Information: 70000138
Entrance: 15 euros (normal), 12 euros (reduced)
Audience is kindly requested to be at the venue at least half an hour prior to the beginning of the show.
Main Sponsor: THOC
Sponsor: OPAP
Media Sponsor: RIK
FEATURE ON “IN STRANGE LAND”
Alongside the performance, in the theatre building’s fοyer, in a specially designed space,the feature “In Strange Land” will be operating, concentrating on the Armenian history, the slaughterings, the percecutions, the uprootings and the fighting for a living in a new land, through descendants’ accounts, personal stories and vocal documents, who ended up in Cyprus from the path they followed after the genocide and also through items, treasured possesions and family photos which they had been able to bring with them.
The feature will operate for the public through the dates of performances from 16:00 to 17:00. In addition, in cases of organized groups, there can be scheduled visits at specific dates and time after consultation and always meeting the necessary safety and protection measures, according to the Ministry of Health’s protocols.
