“Qaraca Gız” (“The Dusky Girl”)
Age restriction: 5+
Language: Azerbaijani
Duration: 1 hour
One of the most well-known and emotionally powerful stories from Süleyman Sani Akhundov’s book “Scary Tales” is “Qaraca Gız.”
The Azerbaijan State Puppet Theatre presents this naturally dramatic tale about friendship and loyalty through the imaginative perspective of children.
In contrast to the sorrowful ending of the original story, the stage adaptation does not depict the heroine’s death — instead, thanks to her courage, she is transformed into a legend.
As is known, the story highlights the social divide between the rich and the poor and the tragedies these inequalities bring to people’s lives. A girl named Tutu, who has lost her parents, is kidnapped by a group of gypsies. There she is looked after and protected by Yasaman, who also teaches her how to dance. After some time, due to a series of events, Tutu becomes separated from the gypsy group.
By chance, she encounters a wealthy man named Huseyngulu Agha, who finds her in the forest and brings her to his home. Everyone begins calling her Qaraca Gız — “the Dusky Girl.” She meets his daughter, Agja. Despite their different living conditions, the girls show kindness toward each other and become friends.
However, Agja’s mother, Perijahan khanum, dislikes the Dusky Girl and does everything she can to separate the girls. The Dusky Girl begins living with the gardener, Piri Baba.
One day, when Agja’s life is in danger, the Dusky Girl does not hesitate to sacrifice herself to save her friend. In the director’s interpretation, this heroic act turns her into a legend.
