Danish ambassador’s wife becomes honorary member of Iranian troupe

TEHRAN,July 11(MNA) -- The Danish ambassador’s wife has become an honorary member of the Aran Puppet Theater Group, which is led by Iranian director Behruz Gharibpur. The membership was granted on Sunday after she and her husband Anders Christian Hougard watched a performance of “Hafez”, an opera puppet show by the troupe, at Tehran’s Ferdowsi Theater, the organizer Rudaki Foundation announced in a press release on Monday. The name of the Danish ambassador’s wife was not mentioned. They also visited back stage at the show and Gharibpur gave them some details about the play. Hougard expressed hope that the play would also be performed in Denmark as soon as possible. Focus of the “Hafez” opera puppet show is part of the life story of the Persian poet Hafez (1325-1389). The play begins with the occupation of Shiraz by the Ilkhanid governor of Yazd, Mubariz ad-Din Muzaffar. He kills his predecessor, Abu Is’haq Inju, who is Hafez’s patron. As a result, Shiraz becomes the Muzaffarid dynasty’s capital in 1353. In this period, Hafez gives a critical ambiance to his poems. Consequently, his enemies begin to provoke Mubariz ad-Din Muzaffar to fight with him. Thus, Hafez is forced to live in isolation. Aran has previously performed the opera puppet shows “Macbeth”, “Ashura”, “Rustam and Sohrab” and “Rumi” in Iran and some other countries.