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A NEW PLAYWRIGHT IN TOWN: TALEEN BABAYAN DAZZLES
ARTS | NOVEMBER 7, 2013 2:07 PM
By Hagop Vartivarian
NEW YORK - The cultural life of the Greater New York Armenian
community was further enriched with the theatrical endeavor of
Taleen Babayan. Already a recognized name to the readership of the
Armenian-Mirror Spectator for the last decade with her frequent
articles and reporting, we are doubly pleased to see a young talent
interested in writing plays, possibly the most difficult genre of
literature.
Babayan possesses a deep knowledge of what defines an Armenian-American
family: the traditional family clinging firmly to ethnic customs,
juxtaposed with the current generation striving to adapt and adjust to
a new environment. Whereas during the last century renowned literary
figures such as Peniamin Nourigian, Aram Haigaz, Vahe Hayg, Souren
Manuelian, and Hagop Asadourian lamented the pain of immigrants
arriving from historic Armenia, today Babayan laments the pain of
young Armenian-Americans, whose families arrived from Beirut, Aleppo,
Istanbul, and Tehran, and who strive to speak and live the Armenian
spirit outside of their homeland. We only hope that her endeavor
becomes an inspiration to her generation.
She was indeed raised in a traditional Armenian family. Her
grandfather, Yervant Babayan, is a prominent educator and prolific
writer, and her father, Nerses, was engaged in journalism for many
years and associated with the Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Furthermore,
she continues to receive the attention and care of her loving mother,
Hermine.
Like many others of her generation, Babayan spent her college years
away from home in a non-Armenian environment, but maintained the
ties to her Armenian culture during that time. She has acquired her
knowledge of the Armenian language at home and from Saturday Armenian
School. She is worthy of much praise.
Back to the play. "Where Is Your Groom?" is 80-percent English and
20-percent Armenian and they complement each other in perfect harmony.
All the young actors at the performance on Saturday, October 26,
at The Players Theatre, were essentially the product of the Middle
East and close to 250 attendees watched their acting and accurate
Armenian pronunciation with pure pleasure.
The play takes place at the home of Koko (Aris Hamparsoumian) and
Siroun (Katherine Sabbagh). The couple's two children, Lara (Zarig
Baghdadlian) and Saro [Haig Minassian], wish to marry non-Armenians,
after having bad experiences dating in their own community. Lara
introduces her parents to an ignorant American young man, who has
not even heard of Armenia. Meanwhile, Lara's parents introduce her to
young men of Armenian families. Finally, she meets the right Armenian
and the engagement (khosgab) takes place as well-known singer Robert
Chilingirian enters the stage singing a wedding song.
Some on the stage had acting experience and others none, yet all
performed very well. The set, featuring an Armenian living room,
was beautifully furnished. Other participants included Lori Cinar,
Joe Hovsepian, Tanya Bas, Taniel Ohanian, Raffi Gulbenk, Sarkis
Yenikomshuyan, Sedrak Yenikomshuyan, Daniella Baydar, Taniel Ekshian,
Andrew Saganda and Edwin Baghdasarian. Backstage volunteers were
Taleen Baghdadlian, Anoush Gulian and Anahid Kaprielian. Harout
Chatmajian, one of the directors of the Tekeyan Cultural Association's
Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group, contributed greatly to the acting
aspect of the play.
The play teems with the painful phenomenon of Armenian-American
contemporary life. For example, the family priest (played by Taniel
Ohanian) introduces Paul (played by Andrew Saganda), a seminarian who
aspires to become a priest yet who doesn't know one word of Armenian.
He will serve in the Armenian Church and if left to such priests, our
sacred Badarak will be performed in English one day. Babayan highlights
this and many other painful occurrences within our community life in
her play.
We congratulate her and the team of young cast and crew and who
continue to keep our theatrical heritage alive.
-Translated by Nerses Babayan
- See more at:
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/11/07/a-new-playwright-in-town-taleen-babayan-dazzles/#sthash.ZE1aqreC.dpuf
From: Baghdasarian
ARTS | NOVEMBER 7, 2013 2:07 PM
By Hagop Vartivarian
NEW YORK - The cultural life of the Greater New York Armenian
community was further enriched with the theatrical endeavor of
Taleen Babayan. Already a recognized name to the readership of the
Armenian-Mirror Spectator for the last decade with her frequent
articles and reporting, we are doubly pleased to see a young talent
interested in writing plays, possibly the most difficult genre of
literature.
Babayan possesses a deep knowledge of what defines an Armenian-American
family: the traditional family clinging firmly to ethnic customs,
juxtaposed with the current generation striving to adapt and adjust to
a new environment. Whereas during the last century renowned literary
figures such as Peniamin Nourigian, Aram Haigaz, Vahe Hayg, Souren
Manuelian, and Hagop Asadourian lamented the pain of immigrants
arriving from historic Armenia, today Babayan laments the pain of
young Armenian-Americans, whose families arrived from Beirut, Aleppo,
Istanbul, and Tehran, and who strive to speak and live the Armenian
spirit outside of their homeland. We only hope that her endeavor
becomes an inspiration to her generation.
She was indeed raised in a traditional Armenian family. Her
grandfather, Yervant Babayan, is a prominent educator and prolific
writer, and her father, Nerses, was engaged in journalism for many
years and associated with the Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Furthermore,
she continues to receive the attention and care of her loving mother,
Hermine.
Like many others of her generation, Babayan spent her college years
away from home in a non-Armenian environment, but maintained the
ties to her Armenian culture during that time. She has acquired her
knowledge of the Armenian language at home and from Saturday Armenian
School. She is worthy of much praise.
Back to the play. "Where Is Your Groom?" is 80-percent English and
20-percent Armenian and they complement each other in perfect harmony.
All the young actors at the performance on Saturday, October 26,
at The Players Theatre, were essentially the product of the Middle
East and close to 250 attendees watched their acting and accurate
Armenian pronunciation with pure pleasure.
The play takes place at the home of Koko (Aris Hamparsoumian) and
Siroun (Katherine Sabbagh). The couple's two children, Lara (Zarig
Baghdadlian) and Saro [Haig Minassian], wish to marry non-Armenians,
after having bad experiences dating in their own community. Lara
introduces her parents to an ignorant American young man, who has
not even heard of Armenia. Meanwhile, Lara's parents introduce her to
young men of Armenian families. Finally, she meets the right Armenian
and the engagement (khosgab) takes place as well-known singer Robert
Chilingirian enters the stage singing a wedding song.
Some on the stage had acting experience and others none, yet all
performed very well. The set, featuring an Armenian living room,
was beautifully furnished. Other participants included Lori Cinar,
Joe Hovsepian, Tanya Bas, Taniel Ohanian, Raffi Gulbenk, Sarkis
Yenikomshuyan, Sedrak Yenikomshuyan, Daniella Baydar, Taniel Ekshian,
Andrew Saganda and Edwin Baghdasarian. Backstage volunteers were
Taleen Baghdadlian, Anoush Gulian and Anahid Kaprielian. Harout
Chatmajian, one of the directors of the Tekeyan Cultural Association's
Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group, contributed greatly to the acting
aspect of the play.
The play teems with the painful phenomenon of Armenian-American
contemporary life. For example, the family priest (played by Taniel
Ohanian) introduces Paul (played by Andrew Saganda), a seminarian who
aspires to become a priest yet who doesn't know one word of Armenian.
He will serve in the Armenian Church and if left to such priests, our
sacred Badarak will be performed in English one day. Babayan highlights
this and many other painful occurrences within our community life in
her play.
We congratulate her and the team of young cast and crew and who
continue to keep our theatrical heritage alive.
-Translated by Nerses Babayan
- See more at:
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/11/07/a-new-playwright-in-town-taleen-babayan-dazzles/#sthash.ZE1aqreC.dpuf
From: Baghdasarian