NORA ARMANI WILL COME TO ARMENIA TO STAGE NOVEL BY SAROYAN IN ARMENIAN

Noyan Tapan
Oct 22, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. New York-based actress of Armenian
descent Nora Armani took her first theatrical steps at Egypt’s Society
of Art Lovers where recitation soirees, concerts and stage performances
were given. She first performance was in Gerald Papasian’s 1974 play
"The Princess of Window".

Having received a degree in sociology from the American University in
Cairo, she went to study at the University of London. However, over
those years she appeared in many films and theatrical productions and
later also staged plays. In June of this year, she received the most
long-awaited and much cherished invitation in her life: she was asked
to participate in a theatrical festival dedicated to the centenary of
William Saroyan’s birth (the event was held within the framework of
"Hayfes" international festival in Yerevan).

"That invitation was extremely important to me for two reasons: first,
it was related to Saroyan and his works, secondly, the festival was
held in Armenia. I set about my job with double responsibility. The
result was stunning: the English performance received applause from
the audience, while experts considered it to be as warm and dear
as Saroyan’s work and speech," this is how the actress and stage
director Nora Armani commented on the Yerevan premiere of the play
"Papa Yor’re Crazy" during a talk with NT correspondent.

In the words of Nora Armani, her intention was to stage Saroyan’s
autobiographical novel "Papa You’re Crazy" rather than any of his
famous plays. She said that this work has a universal approach
because it is a story of all fathers and children: "We constantly
reject our parents but some time later we start resembling them –
after spending most of our life on rejection. Whereas, it would be
better if we accepted them from the very start," she remarked.

Nora Armani said that the same approach should be displayed regarding
the issue of identity assertion: "Many renounce their Armenian
nationality, culture and affiliation, but finally they accept
all this." According to her, when writing the novel, Saroyan drew
parallels between the 10-year-old periods of himself and his son,
then compared with "his 45-year-old period because a man and his
child are eventually the same person, but one is big and the other
is small". She said it was quite difficult to put the 164-page novel
in a one-hour play, retaining its integrity.

"I am very glad to receive this opportunity as it is always pleasant to
mix with people who fully perceive the depth of a word and gesture. It
is wonderful that people go to the theatre," she noted. Nora Armani
plans to stage the play in Armenian and present it in Yerevan. "Staging
has been my main activity in recent period: previously I did this
job because the result was good but now I love it," she underlined.

Nora Armani first came to Armenia as long ago as 1968. Then was the
second visit in 1975, and then yet another in 1987. At that time she
became acquainted with Gevorg Emin and other Armenian artists. In 1991
she played a part in Ara Yernjakian’s film "Deadline in Seven Days". In
1991-1993, the Diasporan Armenian actress shared the bitterness of
cold and dark with Yerevan residents. Then she did not visit Armenia
for a long period.

However, upon arriving in Armenia in 2007, she found it transformed
and bright. "I saw shine and gleams of light in the eyes of people. I
am extremely happy that the life has become prosperious here, people
smile and … go to the cinema and theatre," Nora Armani said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress