“Andy Warhol of Iran”
Until July 6th
Atlas Spaforming Arts Centre Mosaic Theatre Company
1333 H St., NE, WDC
$70
mosaictheater.org
Behind the veneer in Blaze, Andy Warhol was more interested than people knew. Especially when it comes to money. He paid attention to how the super wealthy people lived, who were paid by fellow artists, who were paying, and of course, all the ways in which they could sell art.
In playwright Brent Askari’s Andy Warhol of Iran, Warhol (Alex Mills), who currently performs at the Mosaic Theatre Company, brings him outside of his usual interesting field as he lands face to face with the young revolutionary. Warhol could be artistically revolutionary, but he had nothing to do with the idea of forgetting the pursuit of money and fame due to the infinitely challenging task of achieving social justice.
The 90-minute play is not entirely true, and is inspired by a trip to Tehran in 1976, focusing on Faradiva, Shah’s elegant wife and the last empress of Iran, in order to create a portrait of the royal Pallavi family on the day of a decline in rule.
The action unfolds in Tehran’s hotel suites with illustrious views of the snow-capped Alborz Mountains not far from Iran’s vibrant and vibrant capital. It is a disguised as room service that Farhad (played by Nathan Mohebubi) enters Warhol’s room and lures pop art stars to attract attention to the college students’ movements.
Warhol meets an armed intruder with a surprising wonder of the kind of eye, and messes up why he was chosen for acquiring. Warhol can’t understand why a young man like Farhad doesn’t like to pay a big ransom on the spot, or can’t understand that he’s cast as a star in one of Warhol’s factory flicks.
When Farhad answers, it’s because Warhol is the most decadent artist in the world, so Warhol accidentally seeks the ultimate tribute. After all, his greatest success was related to celebrities and consumerism (think Campbell’s soup cans, 1962).
For Warhol, decadence is ambitious. He created portraits of investors, movie stars and jet setters. In fact, he was a small child in Pittsburgh, so while tied up by the San Vitus dance, he became obsessed with the lives of rich and famous people.
Along with Warhol, Tehran (Unseen) is his business manager, Fred Hughes, and Bob Colacello, editor of the interview magazine. Together, they form a hilarious trio of gay social climbers. These types of travel have been a boon for artists. Not only did they solidify a new layer of social contacts, they also padded the painter’s pockets thickly, in a splendid favour and thicker way.
While in Iran, Warhol wanted to sample caviar on tap and get a Polaroid, just by looking at Farah’s vast collection of world-class gems. He then returned first class to New York, transferred the images to silkscreen, and sold portraits to Persian royals at a large price. He foresaw no obstacles along the way.
Serge Saiden’s direction is emerging. He was rendered as two dresses along with the badly cast actor. And Seiden illuminates a work of humor that is drawn primarily from the absurdity of the situation without missing a serious bit.
As Warhol, out-actor Mills is quickly recognized as a quirky artist. He wears the famous shock of a button-down shirt, jeans, blazer, glasses and of course a white-haired wig (with a little more Karen here than Andy). His portrayal is better than imitation. He’s confused by giving him a little bit, but injecting him with a certain dynamism.
Energy works well with the strength of Farhad, the mohebbi trickster. And while it’s not a romance, it’s not impossible to think that Warhol might fall into a handsome male captivity.
The relationship between art and politics is almost always interesting. And although not a deep dig into the artist’s era or life, “Andy Warhol of Iran” offers a fascinating, charming, and sometimes entertaining glimpse into its intersection.
The post “Andy Warhol of Iran” first appeared in Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights and Gay News, looking at the crossroads of art invitingly.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
