Martίn Hernández – Stage Raw.
After actor-playwright Michael Shayan’s years of pestering his Iranian-Jewish immigrant mother Roya to tell her life story, she finally relented to being recorded. After a writing retreat exercise, he took his mother’s interview and his own imagination and melded them together to craft a compelling one-person show. Part stand-up comedy act, part liberating confessional, it is a heartfelt tribute to a single mother who, despite her fear and foibles, rose to meet her challenges with guts and humor. Read more…
Tracey Paleo – BroadwayWorld
Playwright and lead actor Michael Shayan’s homespun solo show, AVAAZ, about his Jewish-Iranian immigrant mother, is layered with all the complexities of a mother/son relationship. The dynamic interface between them given a light touch through simple storytelling by Shayan. Most of the broken fourth wall, coffee-klatch-like evening is spent moving about in high holiday regalia, in and out of one reminiscence or another, as his mother Roya. In her home in Tehran-geles (formerly known as Westwood) she speaks to the audience, in comical diversion, and waits in the hopes of Michael’s arrival for the traditional New Year celebration. It’s been so long since he’s come around. Read more…