Armenians (1971)

Original Production - October 22 - 31, 1974 at Haig Kavookjian Armenian Arts Center, New York

Published - 1986 (as a part of An Armenian Trilogy)

Producer - Diocese of the Armenian Church in America

Director - Ed Setrakian

Original cast:

Ed Setrakian as Father Kasparian

Warren Finnerty as Reverend Muggerditch Knadjian

Luis Avalos as Reverend Papazian

Terese Hayden as Almast

Nicholas Daddazio as Sexton

Joseph Ragno as Doctor Arshak Jivelekian

Murray Moston as Farmer

Vahagn Hovannes as Man from Bitlis

Raymond Cole as Man from Moush

Harold Cherry as Man from Van

David Patch as Man from Harpoot

Bob Doran as Vasken

Rudy Bond as Man from Erzeroum

Saul Carollo as Man from Dikranagert

Robert Coluntino as Man from Giligia

 

Notes:

Saroyan wrote an introduction to the play for the program. 

Reviewed in the New York Daily News by Patricia O'Haire ("Unfortunately, this play is not really a play, at least not yet."

Also reviewed by Nona Balakian in The Armenian Reporter and Arthur Slainer in the Village Voice ("The Armenians is flawed and wordy, yet alive with Saroyan's love of Humanity."). 

Saroyan did not see the production, but heard an audio recording and proclaimed "Stupid and all wrong. good God!"