Brief hiatus boosts “Drought and Lie” box office

TEHRAN,Jan.2(MNA) -- “Drought and Lie” has been warmly welcomed by theatergoers after the performances of the play were temporarily halted by the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Although every day’s performance begins in the evening, very long queues to buy tickets start forming in the early hours of day. All performances for the upcoming week have been sold out. Written by Mohammad Yaqubi, the play highlights the social and individual impact of lying. A troupe, which is also directed by Yaqubi, began performing the play late November, but it was banned on December 14 by the Culture Ministry due to “essential differences” between the on stage version and the one previously authorized by the ministry. The troupe had to make the changes demanded in the performance and the text of the play in order to regain the Cultural Ministry’s approval. A council composed of representatives of the Cultural Ministry reviewed a performance of the troupe after the changes were implemented. The revised version was approved by the council and finally, the troupe comprising Ali Sarabi, Aida Keykhaii, Peyman Moadi and Baran Kowsari resumed performing on December 23. A group of actors and cineastes including Merila Zarei, Omid Rohani, Kamal Tabrizi, Siamak Ehsaii, Reza Servati and Omid Bonakdar also watched the play during last week. The play had previously been staged at the Chahrsu Hall of Tehran’s City Theater Complex in 2009.