TEHRAN – The Cinematheque of the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) is scheduled to screen a recorded stage performance of “All About Eve” at the Royal National Theater on Wednesday.
The production, directed by Belgian theater director Ivo van Hove, is an adaptation of the 1946 short story “The Wisdom of Eve” by American author Mary Orr.
After the screening, a commentary session will be held by Iranian theater critic Mahmoud Reza Habibi.
“All About Eve” opens with a Sarah Siddons Award ceremony honoring rising star Eve Harrington and is narrated by the acerbic theater critic Addison DeWitt. He hints that Eve’s story is more complicated than it appears. The story then shifts to Karen Richards, wife of playwright Lloyd Richards, and how Eve met Margo Channing, an aging Broadway legend. Eve claims to have accompanied Margo on her tour from San Francisco and shared her impoverished childhood and the loss of her husband during the war. Moved by Eve’s story, Margo takes her in as her assistant and secretary. Eve quickly enters Margo’s life and secretly plans to take Margo’s place.
Eve’s ambition grows when she arranges a late-night phone call from Margo to Bill, Margo’s younger lover and film director, making it appear that Margo has forgotten his birthday. Margo becomes suspicious and tries to fire Eve, but Eve convinces producer Max Fabian to replace her. Margo’s frustration deepens, and Karen, feeling sorry for Eve, conspires to invite the critics, including Addison, so that she can perform in Margo’s place. Eve’s performance was a huge hit, but her true intentions surfaced when she tried to seduce Bill, who rejected her.
Addison interviews Eve, who criticizes Margo and convinces Lloyd to consider Margo for the lead role. Meanwhile, Margo and Bill announce their engagement. When Eve hears this, she pressures Karen to recommend her for the lead role or for her face to be exposed to the media. Margo surprisingly turned down the role due to her age and upcoming marriage. Despite Bill’s objections, Eve is chosen for the lead role. She reveals to Addison her plans to marry Lloyd and appear in his plays.
Addison reveals that she knows Eve’s true background (her real name is Gertrude Slesinski and her story is fabricated) and blackmails her by forbidding her to marry Lloyd. He warned her that she was now “his”. The story fast-forwards to Eve, a Broadway star headed to Hollywood, who receives the Sarah Siddons Award with lukewarm gratitude. She skips the afterparty and returns home, where she encounters a teenage fan, Phoebe, who claims to have snuck into Eve’s apartment. Eve is initially irritated, but is soothed by Phoebe’s adoration. Just as Phoebe asks to stay the night, Addison arrives, having brought back Eve’s prize from a taxi. Phoebe pretends to be a fan of Eve’s, lies about the award, and reveals her desire for stardom. Eve posed alone in the gown and with the award, suggesting that her stairway to fame is not over yet.
SAB/