Mehr-Ayeen
Iran

“Simorgh & Zaal” is one of the stories of Shaahnaameh, which has been written by the great Iranian poet Ferdowsi.  Shaahnaameh is one of the greatest epics in the world and a great national epic for Iranians.  It is an invitation to kindness, wisdom and justice.  Its heroes are the messengers of peace, kindness and happiness. They try to maintain peace and wisdom.

“Simorgh & Zaal” includes three parts:

Part 1:

Zaal is hero Saam’s son.  Zaal is half God and half man.  He is borne with white hair.  All the people fear him and exclude him.  His father fears what people think and so he orders his son, Zaal, to be brought out of the city and into the  mountains. 

Simorgh is a mythical bird that in legend is a woman god (Izad Baanoo) that has its nest on the mountains of Alborz. Alborz is the center of the world and the place of kindness. Simorgh takes the lonely child, Zaal, and brings him to the nest.  Simorgh, who is mythically woman-god, nurses the child, wisdom is transferred to the child.  At this moment, god and man mix.  After years go by, Zaal grows up.   Saam dreamed that Zaal is alive, and begins to search for his son.  Simorgh becomes aware of Saam’s search and gives Zaal back to his father and says to Zaal, “Go down and experience the world.”  Zaal comes back to his place of birth, and people welcome him happily.

Part 2:

Now Zaal is the king of Zaabolestan.  He falls in love with Roudaabeh the daughter of Mehrab, who is the king of Kabol.  Their love is opposed.  Zaal and Roudaabeh break all traditions and marry each other.  The world is “produced” by their love, and the world “produces” love.

Part 3:

Esfandiar is killed by Rostam, the son of Zaal.  Bahman, the son of Esfandiar and a representative of religious government, attacks Iran-Sistan for revenge and kills many people.  Sistan is plundered and a new religion is enforced throughout the country.  Ultimately, old Zaal is captured and Roudaabeh is overcome with madness.  The end of the epic is reached with the aging of Zaal, the decline of his power and the rise of a religious government to power.

Performers:

Nadi Chamany
Davood Mashayekhi
Faramarz Talakoub
Shahnaz Sharifi
Mahdi Moein
Poroshat Soleimani

Music by Omid Yousefi
Written and Directed by Fatemah Fakhri   

Venue: Gallaudet University
Gil Eastman Studio

SHOWS CANCELED!

General Admission: $15
Students/Senior Citizens: $10