TEHRAN – Labkhand Theater Complex in Tehran will host the play “A Life in the Theater” written by David Mamet from February 15.

Directed by Habibollah Danesh, the 90-minute play has Amir Ghanbari, Hesam Zarnousheh, Mahmoud Salarieh, and Emadodin Danesh in the cast, Mehr reported.

The play focuses on the relationship between two actors, the play's only characters. One, Robert, is a stage veteran while John is a young, promising actor. 

As the play goes on, they are involved in a variety of productions, and gradually their relationship begins to change.

The two characters appear in 26 scenes - snippets from plays they're performing for an imaginary audience upstage.

Each scene suggests some recognizable cornball kind of play from back in the day: a Civil War drama, a marooned sailor drama, an outraged husband confronting his wife's lover drama, a hospital operating room drama, and so on. They’re all clunky productions, and the ensuing mishaps become the main source of the humor.

Interspersed between the snippets are scenes between the two actors in their dressing room: putting on makeup, waiting for a call about a film audition, complimenting or criticizing the way the show went that night.

Notable UK productions of “A Life in the Theater” include a run at London's Apollo Theater in 2005, with Patrick Stewart as Robert and Joshua Jackson playing John, and an Edinburgh Fringe production in 2008 by Schadenfreude Productions, with David Cann as Robert and Jonathan Rhodes as John.

Another revival featuring Patrick Stewart and T.R. Knight and directed by Neil Pepe began performances on Broadway in a limited engagement in 2010, for a 15-week run.

David Mamet, 78, is an American playwright, author, and filmmaker. He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1984) and “Speed-the-Plow” (1988). 

He first gained critical acclaim for a trio of 1970s off-Broadway plays: “The Duck Variations” and “American Buffalo”. His plays “Race” and “The Penitent,” respectively, opened on Broadway in 2009 and previewed off-Broadway in 2017.

Feature films that Mamet both wrote and directed include “House of Games” (1987), “Homicide” (1991), “The Spanish Prisoner” (1997), and his biggest commercial success, “Heist” (2001). 

His screenwriting credits include “The Postman Always Rings Twice” (1981), “The Verdict” (1982), “The Untouchables” (1987), “Hoffa” (1992), “Wag the Dog” (1997), and “Hannibal” (2001). 

Mamet himself wrote the screenplay for the 1992 adaptation of “Glengarry Glen Ross,” and wrote and directed the 1994 adaptation of his play “Oleanna” (1992). He created and produced the CBS series “The Unit” (2006–2009).

“A Life in the Theater” will remain on stage for about a month at Labkhand Theater Complex, located at No. 417, Taleqani Street, between Naderi and Vesal-e Shirazi streets.

SS/SAB