Rosvaie

Story of five women sharing unfruitful love lives

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

Rosvaie
by Roya Jahanbin
08-Jul-2011
 

Rosvaie, or scandal, is the name of a new play by Saam Theatre Company in London. The play is the love child of the director, Sousan Farrokhnia, and actors who never had any acting experience or training before. Farrokhnia, with more than 30 years of experience in theatre, once again proved to be a master in her field, turning the female cast into professionals in less than 6 weeks.

The play is the story of five women sharing their unfruitful love lives with each other and the audience. However, as their stories unfold, we learn that the men with whom they fell in love have stark similarities, especially their love of turquoise jewellery.

The first woman, middle aged, tells us about the romance and the intensity of the love affair, until the end when the man could not “put a ring on it”! The relationship ends with turquoise jewellery. The second woman, a bit younger, describes her romance with a similar ending.

The third and fourth love-stricken women, getting younger and younger by turn, suffer the same fate. The last girl, who is currently dating the man, opens her heart to reveal that she had already received the turquoise ring. This is when they realise that they had all fallen in love with the same man who could not commit himself to a long-term relationship.

More than portraying a rosvaie, the play conveys the fact that the man is a charming local tomcat who fails to be monogamous. Has he committed a crime? I am not sure, since he did not marry any of the first four women and probably wouldn’t marry the fifth one either. Fortunately, there are no children involved – only a man following his hormones!

We, women, either due to our genetic imprint or age-old cultural and economic indoctrination, are more often monogamous than not. Our biology condemn us to constant changes from our first menstruation to child-bearing brooding and menopause to such extremes that perhaps we would like to have a bit of stability with a long-term partner rather than jumping from bed to bed.

I believe this was true throughout our evolution from the time we stayed home with the babies and the cat, while men where hunting for food, to the glorious “Housewife” days and now the age of sperm banks!

They play is entertaining and lively, especially with a dance scene by the women that brought about the cheers from the audience. The play is a breathing occasion for a community who has been in the headlines for more than 30 years for all sorts of misfortunes, and who has almost forgotten what entertainment means.

The Saam Theatre group’s future programmes: are as follow:

* “Theatre and Elocution” workshops: once a week, starting on Sunday, 17 July, 4-6pm; at No. 31, Hoop Lane, Golders Green, London NW11 8BS

* Reading Shahnameh: once a week, starting Saturday, 16 July, 5-7 pm; at No. 90, Hodford Road, Golders Green, London NW11 8EG.

* English Classes:, once a week, starting Sunday 17 July, 3-4pm, at No. 31, Hoop Lane, Golders Green, London NW11 8BS

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
Truthseeker9

.

by Truthseeker9 on Fri Aug 05, 2011 09:08 AM PDT

.


  •  
vildemose

make public the fact that

by vildemose on Sat Jul 09, 2011 08:04 PM PDT

make public the fact that she had a great Argentinian the other night and he was sooo hot? I don’t think so. Women do not need the feel to do this, and certainly will not because it makes you

hOW WRONG YOU ARE. Women will even brag about it with their closest friends...Not publicly like men, precisely because they will be called sluts.


  •  
comments

Thank you Roya.

by comments on Sat Jul 09, 2011 07:12 PM PDT

I loved the story and I wish it was a book a to read.  I received the subject as you explained with strong clarity.  I usually don't confuse myself with a subject when a clear example/illustration is available.  What about to watch the Sex and the City again and again?  I personally don't think men and women are different.  However, I think Iranian men and women are different because of cultural limitations and trainings.


  •  
Truthseeker9

.

by Truthseeker9 on Fri Aug 05, 2011 09:09 AM PDT

.


  •  
Anahid Hojjati

Oh no, just got a haircut

by Anahid Hojjati on Sat Jul 09, 2011 02:34 PM PDT

It is not even touching the shoulder.

By the way, Faramarz jan, women can get turned on also by how a man looks and want to have sex with him with no advanced planning.


  •  
Faramarz

Soosan Khanoom and Anahid

by Faramarz on Sat Jul 09, 2011 02:29 PM PDT

Your analysis is flawed because you are confusing equality with likeness. Men are women are equal but not alike.

The writer’s argument is not about the equality between men and women but rather about the point that men and women are different creatures and behave differently, notwithstanding the cultural pressures.

I am sure that you agree that men on average are bigger, taller, stronger, eat more, drink more, take more oxygen, run faster and are more violent than women. And women are gentler, more communicative, more emotional, and possess a whole bunch of other good attributes than men. That’s just a statement of the facts and not a rejection of the equal rights of men and women.

These observation have really nothing to do with the equality of the genders, but rather they try to explain why the male of the species from the age 14 till the age of 94 looks at sex as a recreational activity and a daily ritual and the women of the species see it as an act with a purpose, such as attracting a man, having a child or getting a new washer and dryer!

A man wakes up in the morning and if he likes the way a woman’s hair is touching her shoulders he immediately wants to have sex. A woman on the other hand, plans a whole series of activities starting early in the week that will ultimately end up in a sexual activity on a Saturday night, including flowers, dinner, movies, new dress, you name it!


  •  
Soosan Khanoom

Yes Anahid jan ......

by Soosan Khanoom on Sat Jul 09, 2011 09:33 AM PDT

Some authors just do not get involved but some are not here to begin with unless they open an account to be able to post . ...I believe Roya is one without account on IC ..... In any case as you correctly mentioned and I agree it is still good because that has made us to discuss things ....     


  •  
Anahid Hojjati

I agree SK

by Anahid Hojjati on Sat Jul 09, 2011 02:26 AM PDT

we probably will not hear from the author.


  •  
Soosan Khanoom

I agree

by Soosan Khanoom on Sat Jul 09, 2011 02:14 AM PDT

By the way i do no think so the author posted this herself .... It is another admin picked article ... So we probably are not going to hear from the author .... 

The play Sounds interesting too


  •  
Anahid Hojjati

but then the good thing is that now

by Anahid Hojjati on Sat Jul 09, 2011 02:09 AM PDT

we are dicussing this subject. So no matter if we agree with author or not, play is valuable since it brings about discussion about this subject.


  •  
Soosan Khanoom

And

by Soosan Khanoom on Sat Jul 09, 2011 02:01 AM PDT

As I mentioned ...... 

A promiscuous female is called a slut, while a promiscuous male is glamourised with names such as 'stud' or 'ladies' man .....

Double standard ......

and when I see people write stuff in justification of men's behavior I get pissed off .... specially if the author is a woman ....  


  •  
Anahid Hojjati

Dear SK, but then there are individual differences too

by Anahid Hojjati on Sat Jul 09, 2011 01:59 AM PDT

Besides being brought up, there are other elements at work too. In the same family, different siblings can have different pattern in their relationships . One could say that even though environment is the same, may be one sibling experienced it differently because they were boy or middle child or whatever or one could bring up that perhaps there is a genetic factor involved. It can be more complex than just men and women. Some people may be wired for being more receptive to change in their lives. In any case, even same person, can change. A person who used to be with one person for decades, can become one who prefers not to have a longtime partner since their needs may change.


  •  
Soosan Khanoom

Anahid Jan .  

by Soosan Khanoom on Sat Jul 09, 2011 01:51 AM PDT

All I am saying is that for each and every single man who has chosen to be promiscuous there exists an equal number of women who have chosen to be one as well ........  or on the other hand for each and every single man who has chosen to be monogamous there exists an equal number of women who have chosen to be one as well ...

when it comes to our choices in our sexual relationship men and women are equal .... Now the author here brought up the idea that women are not like that and men are just men and have this hormonal situation going on (the  author's excuse for men's behavior ) ......  

But actually what you are pointing at is more accurate. You used the right wording here  " women have been brought up "  Please pay attention to the word that you so correctly used here and that is " brought up " which  is nothing but the teaching of the  society /  family / and culture...... while at the same time men are being brought up differently ...

But saying that gentically or hormonally or whatever reason that one can up with to justify men's behavior is completey wrong and discriminatory ...... because women can be as  promiscuous as any man but as I mentioned they are more picky in their choices ...... better say that the promiscuous women are smart and the promiscuous men are plain dumb ....  

I hope I am clear ....  : )


  •  
Anahid Hojjati

Soosan Khanoom, it is not clear what you mean

by Anahid Hojjati on Sat Jul 09, 2011 01:27 AM PDT

where you noted:"Men and women are both programmed for promiscuity but the main difference is in the fact that how men and women go about being promiscuous..........  Men usually tend to focus on quantity and women focus on quality.  In another words men go in bed almost with just anyone but women are little more discriminating and much more picky....." what do you mean that women are also promiscuous but focus on quality? I think it also depends on individual. Some people have higher need for stability in life and some have other needs. It is true that men are rewarded for being adventurous in life which they extend to relationships too but women are brought up not as adventurous and risk taker. Now, those women who are more adventurous in life, they are more similar to men in their relationships too and they would be more prone to having more partners (either at the same time) or during their lives.


  •  
Soosan Khanoom

WHO SAID SO !!!

by Soosan Khanoom on Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:46 AM PDT


I completely disagree with this statement .....

"   Our biology condemn us to constant changes from our first menstruation to child-bearing brooding and menopause to such extremes that perhaps we would like to have a bit of stability with a long-term partner rather than jumping from bed to bed. "

Men and women are both programmed for promiscuity but the main difference is in the fact that how men and women go about being promiscuous..........  Men usually tend to focus on quantity and women focus on quality.  In another words men go in bed almost with just anyone but women are little more discriminating and much more picky.....

Now pleeeeease stop feeding us that it is OK for men because they are  men and or as you mentioned the hormonal thingy ... which is pure BS.... This is a cultural discrimination against women and has nothing to do with women being monogamous ..... a culture which still exists even in the West .....  

In East they will stone to death a woman who chooses to be  promiscuous and in the west while it is completely normal for a man to be one they call any woman who act that way a slut and they verbally stone her character to death .... If something is wrong it should be for both genders and if it is not then it also should be for both genders ....

I encourage you to read this ......  

He's a Stud, She's a Slut, and 49 Other Double Standards Every Woman Should Know

  

//www.amazon.com/Other-Double-Standards-Every-Should/dp/1580052452

PS .... i may have gone a little bit off the topic of this blog which is about the play but the explanation of the author who happened to be a woman just pissed me off .....  

 


  •  
Anahid Hojjati

Thanks Roya jan, sounds like a good play to see

by Anahid Hojjati on Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:04 AM PDT

Only if I were in London. The story of play is interesting to me. Thanks for sharing.


  •