Velayat theatrical troupes started the festival “Mähre doly eneleriň ýüregi” (“Mother’s Heart Full of Love”), currently being held in Turkmenistan. Then, it was the turn of the capital’s theaters to showcase their mastery in exploring the theme of motherhood. For its part, the State Russian Drama Theater named after A.S. Pushkin presented at the festival a play based on Magtymguly Myshshyev’s work “Ene” (“Mother”).

Since the theme addressed in the play was somewhat unconventional, director Bayram Garajaev staged it as a comedic drama with elements of grotesque. In Akgozel-eje’s courtyard, objects mysteriously rise and fall on their own, and the youngest daughter-in-law metaphorically keeps her husband “on a leash.” Such things do not happen in real life—just as the story itself couldn’t happen in reality. It unfolds against a scenographic backdrop featuring a large heart attached to a genealogical tree. Once upon a time, happiness reigned in Akgozel-eje’s family, as evidenced by an old photograph of her and her husband as a young couple. But nearby stands a clock that relentlessly marks the passage of time. Her sons have grown up and moved away.

In her final speech, Akgozel-eje, accusing her daughters-in-law of greed and her sons of weakness, delivers a truthful line: “I gave you life but failed to give you proper upbringing.” Through this production, the director seems to remind us: “A fairy tale is false, but it contains a hint—a lesson for good people.” The actors supported this message with their flawless performances. Meanwhile, set designer Tatiana Pradan, an honored cultural worker, managed to convey this extraordinary story of motherhood through her imaginative decorations.