Zia Moheyddin directs Habib Mamoon
Nothing short of a casting coup, giants from the world of the theatre — namely Zia Mohyeddin, Talat Hussain, Rahat Kazmi, Zaheen Tahira, Jahanara Hai and Arshad Mehmood will soon be seen coming together for a theatrical piece de resistance.
The greats can be seen in an adaptation of the famous play Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov in Urdu and titled Habib Mamoon. Penned by Zahida Zaidi, the play is a coming-of-age tragicomedy reflecting a mood of spiritual disillusionment and helplessness before the overwhelming impersonal forces of circumstance. When we look toward the disintegration and decadence of our own feudal society, we are amazed at how poignantly Chekhov has depicted and dramatised an unequivocally familiar situation in his plays. The writer’s successful capturing of this aura makes her adaptation a profoundly personal and memorable experience for an audience.
Directed and produced by TV, film and theatre personality Zia Mohyeddin, Habib Mamoon is the first theatre production under the auspices of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA). Besides the outstanding names in Pakistani television/theatre such as Talat Hussain, Rahat Kazmi and Arshad Mahmood, others in the cast include Nyla Jaffery and newcomer Ishma Alvi.
Spread over 10 days, and presented by The Citizens Foundation (TCF), Habib Mamoon will be staged at the Karachi Arts Council theatre from August 24 to September 2, 2007 at 7.30pm onwards.
For theater lovers, it will be a rare treat to witness a power-packed performance by such illustrious names