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THE PLAY |
A Dress for Mona | ||
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The Play
The Midwest Book Review calls 'A Dress for Mona': "a powerful play...
"difficult choices... vividly presented in this gripping human account...
"in many ways a modern-day mirror of the fanaticism portrayed in another great classic, "The Crucible"...
"A Dress for Mona is an absorbing, thought-provoking, and at times emotionally wrenching drama...
"highly recommended for either personal readings or community theater productions"
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As of 2007, there is a brand new version of the play called "A New Dress for Mona." It is updated with more accurate historical information, and the story is conveyed in a more dramatically compelling way.
A country in revolution The play "A Dress for Mona" was written by Mark Perry, and was first performed in March 2001 at the University of Iowa after having received several staged readings. The playwright writes:
"In May 1999, I asked myself if I had
only one play to write, what would it be about? If there were only one
opportunity to share with others a most basic message of love, what would
it be? Eventually, the questions narrowed to this: which historical
character could best represent the truth and beauty at the heart of my
Faith? Publication
The play was published in
September 2002 by 5th Epoch
Press, an imprint of
Discover Writing Press.
It is available to be purchased for $10.
(That's about the cost of photocopying it and putting it in a binder.)
The Drama Circle's 2003 production is now available, with a lovely and
moving documentary, on DVD! You may order copies of the book and the DVD from the
DWP's online store
or by calling 1-800-613-8055. You may also order the book from
Amazon.com. See the
Press Release for publication details. Ultimately, plays are meant to be seen and heard, and not just read. Consider performing this play in your community. It has proven an effective means of communicating the momentous and inspirational story of Mona's life to a general audience. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PERFORMING THE PLAY "A DRESS FOR MONA," YOU MUST GET WRITTEN PERMISSION. We now offer a convenient online application form. You may also download the one-page application as a Word Document (DOC) or as a print-ready (PDF) file, fill it out and send it to The Drama Circle by mail or email. If you have trouble with the application, send an email to info@dramacircle.org requesting help. Soon after your application is received, you will receive word whether permission to perform is granted plus details about rights and royalties. The play may also be presented as a "reading," whether it be held in an auditorium or in one's living room. For this you may not need anything more than some copies of the script and some warm bodies. (Learn more about readings.)
Q: Who needs to fill out the
application form?
Q: Do I need permission to do a “reading”? A: Readings of the play do not require permission. A “reading” is here defined as an informal presentation of the play with no more than two rehearsals and where no money is charged for admission.
Q: What if I want to charge money? A: If money is charged for any presentation of this play, then previous written permission is required. Performances of this play that do not charge admission but which involve more than two rehearsals also require permission.
Q: Should I contact you anyway if I want to do a reading? A: Sure! While you do not need permission to give an informal reading of the play, we'd love to hear about it! Book Reviews VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) rates "A Dress for Mona" as follows in its June 2003 issue:
5Q = (Hard to imagine it being better written) 4P = (Broad General Appeal) J,S= (Appropriate for Junior & Senior High Ages)
" In 1983, ten women were executed by hanging in Shiraz, Iran, for their Bahá'í beliefs, sacrilege in a country whose leaders were Islamic fundamentalists. This play is the true story of sixteen-year-old Mona Mahmudnizhad, the youngest of the women. It begins with a dream. Mona is asked to choose between three dresses representing different ways of serving her faith. Of martyrdom, suffering, or service, she chooses service. The following scenes show Mona to be a typical teen, close to her parents. On the day her father tells her that she has been appointed to teach Bahá’í classes to young children, she believes that she has found her service. When authorities come to arrest her family for their religion, Mona refuses to flee. Later, in a particularly powerful prison scene, her teacher from school tries to convince her to renounce her faith and be released. Finally, in a scene combining courtroom interrogation, a vision, and her final moments, Mona realizes that she will serve in death. The play has thirteen roles that can be filled by eight players. The book includes staging advice, a Persian pronunciation guide, historical sources, endnotes, and an introduction by the author explaining how he altered the truth for the sake of drama. This well-constructed, emotional, and moving story is a window into a world usually encountered only in limited perspective on the news. Mona's story will inspire teens to learn more about daily life in Islamic countries, the Bahá'í religion, and how it contrasts with fundamental Islam." – Angela Carstenson
The Midwest Book Review says, "A Dress for Mona is a powerful play by Mark Perry and based upon a true historical account. A Dress for Mona is set in 1982 Iran when the Bahai (an offshoot of Islam and the largest religious minority within Iran) were subjected to brutal prosecution, imprisonment and even murder. Young Mona is a Bahai believer, and thus a primary target for arrest and execution. Her vision of three dresses, each representing a different direction possible for her life, and her difficult choices between faith and sacrifice are vividly presented in this gripping human account, in many ways a modern-day mirror of the fanaticism portrayed in another great classic, "The Crucible." A Dress for Mona is an absorbing, thought-provoking, and at times emotionally wrenching drama which highly recommended for either personal readings or community theater productions." |
Options
OR
(abridged / .pdf)
Hmm... Still not
Read the review on the Midwest Book Review website
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