By Hagop Vartivarian
ENGLEWOOD, N.J. — It will be yet another daring enterprise by the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) to present one of the masterpieces of Armenia’s prominent playwright Berj Zeytountian’s play, “All rise! The Court Is in Session,” performed by the association’s Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group in April 2015. The play recounts the trial proceedings of Soghomon Tehlirian who avenged the extermination of his nation and his family by shooting Talaat Pasha in the head, in Berlin, on the March 14, 1921.
The theatre committee has specially invited for this purpose the multi-talented director Gerald Papasian from Paris to stage the play. The cast includes 25 actors and actresses of various ages. Next the company’s all-time regulars, newcomers will also take part, among whom a 92 year old grandfather symbolizing the elderly generation in this 100th anniversary inter-Armenian manifestation.
Rehearsals are already underway for the past two months in the Tekeyan center. The cast is now complete and a technical crew of 20 young members is at work to insure all aspects of lights, sound, music, costumes and sets, striving to bring about some unprecedented innovations.
The performance will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2015, in Manhattan’s Symphony Space theatre, under the auspices of the US East Coast American Genocide Central Commemoration Committee.
