Friday, Feb. 27, 1998

Turkish Drama Club brings play to HUB

By JENNIFER ECK
Collegian Arts Writer

Detailing a grocer's plight in modern Istanbul, a play brings cultural diversity through theater to campus.

The Turkish Drama Club will present Kahraman Bakkal Supermarkete Karsi (Courageous Grocer vs. The Supermarket) at 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday in the HUB Assembly Room. Admission is free.

"It's a fun night out in an extraordinary social setting with its language, music, songs, people and vibrancy."

- Gurhan Elmalioglu, director

Written by Ferhan Sensoy and directed by Gurhan Elmalioglu (graduate-theatre arts), the play integrates original music, singing and traditional storytelling. It is the tale of a grocery shop owner and her struggle for survival against a supermarket chain in Istanbul.

"Through this struggle, a slice of life in Istanbul is revealed with its rich characters and different and diverse lifestyles," Elmalioglu said.

The play will be performed in Turkish, although there will be a detailed synopsis including translations of all the songs and scenes for non-Turkish speaking viewers.

Regardless of the language, the play is a unique opportunity for anyone interested in theater, Elmalioglu said.

"It's a fun night out in an extraordinary social setting with its language, music, songs, people and vibrancy," Elmalioglu said.

Preparing their performance for six months, the director and the actors were very careful to make the message clear, Ender Suvaci (graduate-engineering) said.

"People will understand the scenes through body language," he said, giving the example of a man on one knee to make a wedding proposal.

"The audience will find similar things in daily life between our cultures," Suvaci said.

The drama club hopes to offer a unique perspective into different aspects of Turkish culture, Elmalioglu said.

The club was founded in 1997 as a part of the Turkish Student Association to show the cultural life of University students from Turkey.