TEHRAN – An adaptation of French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s 1943 novella “The Little Prince” will be performed at Tehran’s Akhlaq Cultural Center on October 9 and 10 in celebration of National Children’s Week.
Directed by Loya Khosronajdi, the play’s cast is made up of children and young people with Down syndrome, and the production is dedicated to the families of children with disabilities. The project has been in development for the past two years, Mair reported on Wednesday.
Khosronazhdi expressed his thoughts on the performance, saying, “This was a challenging script, but we worked hard to make it a reality. “The Little Prince” is one of the most famous works of literature and has been performed by many organizations.”
“But I chose this production because I believe that children’s abilities are far beyond what is commonly recognized, and I wanted to create a more authentic and professional theater experience with them. The innocence, honesty, and transparency of this character resonates deeply with all of my children.”
“This project involves 24 children with disabilities, aged between 13 and 38, all of whom have demonstrated outstanding abilities,” she added.
“I hope that by watching this play, society will support children and pay more attention to their talents and potential,” she concluded.
“The Little Prince” is the story of a young prince who explores space from his home asteroid B-612 and learns about life, love, and humanity. The story begins with the narrator, a pilot stranded in the Sahara Desert, meeting the Little Prince. The prince asks the pilot to draw a picture of a sheep, and a conversation begins that reveals the prince’s journey and insights.
As the prince tells his story, he explains that he is from a small asteroid where he takes care of three volcanoes and his beloved rose. His rose, although unique and cherished, is vain and demanding, leading the prince to confusion about loneliness and love. In search of understanding, he decides to leave the asteroid and explore other planets.
The prince will visit six other asteroids. Each asteroid is inhabited by a lone adult representing a different flaw in adulthood. He meets a king who believes he rules the universe, a vain man obsessed with praise, a drunkard who drinks to forget his shame, a businessman obsessed with owning the stars, a geographer who values knowledge over experience, and a writer who obeys orders without thinking. Each encounter reveals the absurdity and emptiness of adult behavior and emphasizes the prince’s desire for true connection with his peers.
Finally, the prince arrives on Earth, where he meets a fox who teaches him valuable lessons about relationships and emotions. Fox explains that true connections are formed through love and devotion, stating, “One can only see clearly with the heart. Everything that is important is invisible to the eye.” This deep realization causes the prince to understand the importance of his bond with the rose. Because she is special because of the love he showered on her.
The story culminates in a touching moment when the prince encounters a serpent, representing both danger and transformation. The snake provides the prince with a way back to the asteroid, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and death. The book ends with the narrator reminiscing about loss and the enduring nature of love and friendship.
The Little Prince is a philosophical story that explores themes such as childhood innocence, human relationships, and the contrast between the simplicity of a child’s perspective and the complexity of an adult. Through the eyes of the Little Prince, readers are inspired to reconnect with what’s truly important in life: love, friendship, and the beauty of seeing the world with the heart.
SAB/