Oyin Mi Tavli, One Act Play in Dikranagerdtsi Armenian Dialect

Oyin Mi Tavli (A Round of Backgammon) One Act Comedy Performed in Dikranagerdtsi Armenian Dialect By C. K. Garabed

The action takes place in the home of Hovhannes and Manoushag, a married couple, whose nicknames are Nono and Mano. They expect as social visitors their very good friends, a married couple named Garabed and Hripsime, whose nicknames are Bubo and Hormig. Curtain rises Nono and Mano are busy preparing for their guests, Bubo and Hormig. Nono: Hah ginig, badrast is msahfurnerout?

Mano: Inchou badrast ch’im? Kordzis inch eh?

Talking to herself aloud, while picking up trinkets fallen to the floor Es karaltinireh vertsunim, meg kosha tnim, ki jivi dag chumna, megoumuh vnaseh.

Mano exits

Nono: (Talking to himself, aloud, as he inspects the appetizers Mano has placed on the coffee table.) Hala mazzanireh yam. Tamam in? Hos iga: lavash, kahvourma, chormis, pasterma, til banir, kumvadz madzoun ungouzov, sukhdourov, zeytoun. Oorish inch betkeh? Ha! Arakeh mortsah! Besh khouroush finjannirov. Mnag paneh ki bagas eh chalghijin eh. Inch aghvor gank chalghijin g’antsuneh. Balash g’oudeh, khmeh, aghchig guh khaghtsuneh, yev, verchabes, oskin jebeh guh tukhgeh. (Singing to himself.) Hey, Ma-no, Ma-no, Ma-no. Yes ke-zi sh-ba-ken de-sa. E-go in-dzi bak mi dou-r, egh-nam bab-ou-ti, pe-sah. E-go in-dzi bak mi dou-r, egh-nam bab-ou-ti, pe-sah.

Arrival of guests Women welcoming each other Mano: Pari egak. Hormig: Pari desank. Mano: Shadontzeh ch’ink desirink irarou. Hormig: Eh, vorou souchneh? Mink guh ganchink. Tookleh mahhana genik ch’ikalou. Mano: Cheh, m’sih. Toon kinas ki tsezi umunen shad guh sirink desnalou. Hormig: Shda, gadag g’enim, pan mi eh g’usim. Khatrit ch’mna. Men welcoming each other Nono: Parov, zar parov egak. Bubo: Asd-dzou parin Nono: Eh, keyfit, halit? Inch khus is? Bubo: Ergat kimi. Nono: Ya sim, oudadzti, khumadzti kezi, hala, indzi badmeh your katsiris, vov desiris. Bubo: Shad digh ch’im katsirim, shad mart chim desirim. Doun dngoug im. Sneezes Hap, shou! Nono: Kher eghna. Makinirti ker eghna, Nishanadzti der eghna. Asdvadz Dadan bahaban eghna. Ego hramtsunim im shinadz khumeliken ki Iskiri Hayat guh ganchuvi. Useh Gensachour. Arak eh, paits Anasoun ch’ouni, arak kimi. Nour digheh, ahakin hamemnir ouni ki babis tigh guh gancher. G’ser ki saghlam guh biyeh khumoghin. Yev, skancheli anounnirov: Smboul Hindi, Manafsha koki, Nounoufar chichaghi, Badrankouj, Kahba rahani… Bubo: interrupting Kahba rahani! Dzo, Kahba Araberen guh nishanageh “Orospi.” Nono: Kinam. Bornig. Bubo: Inch khus eghav en anouneh trin? Nono: Hama g’usim. Zhamunagin sovoroutiner Turkiya yev Italia ki orospinireh en bzdig toupov rahani pouseh shibaki vran guh tnen ki haiduraren irents kordzeh. Bubo: Zarmunali pan! Nono: Es ashkhari mech umun pan gareli eh. Fills glasses of all present. Raises glass Nono: Genatsnout! All: Genats! Nono: Ego, yerkink Keyamo.

They sing as follows Verse 1: Nono Verse 2: Bubo Verse 3: Hormig Verse 4: Mano Verse 5: Bubo Verse 6: Nono Verse 7: Hormig

Mano: Eh, Hormig, inch iga, ch’iga? Hormig: Bouzji Khosrofeh guh janchunas, cheh? Kinas, mavi achkirov. Mano: Ha, inch eghav? Hormig: Pij Armon le kinas, cheh? Mano: Umun mart kina Pij Armoyin zubloutinnireh, inchou? Hormig: Ipurteh, Pij Armon, khevoutineh purnits, pakhtsouts Bouzji Khosrofi ginigeh, yev Florida darav. Mano: Boush? Hormig: Nantz g’usin. Mano: Eh, Armoyin gnigeh kesh g’uska? Hormig: Cheh, iran hartsunis pani ch’ika. Iragan, g’usin ki ourakh usgats; purtav en marten. Arten umn adin g’user “Knă hurdigvi!” Mano: Eh, ha ba, Khosrofeh? Unni inch khus g’uska? Hormig: En le kehfeh egav. Vorov ginigin hamar guh khori ki en le bidu pan mi ch’eh. Mano: Gerevna umn mart ourakhatsav. Hormig: Anhavadeli pan! Eh, Mano, kezi hartsunim, inch iga, ch’iga? Mano: Mir ortanja dghan, Dikranuh, odar akhchigi hid g’erta. Uhnour erisen shad guh mughlim. Hormig: Odar aghchignireh shad jigar ounin. Mano: Togh leghin badri! Antsial oreh, telephonov ganchits Dikoyin hideh khosalou, paits doun cher. Usetsi iran, “Jivit godreh, doun nusdi.” Hormig: Haieren guh haskuna? Mano: Cheh, Im godurdoug ankghierenov usetsi, “Break your foot, stay home!” Hormig: Haskutsav? Mano: Halbat! Megen kotsits telephoneh. Dikoyin usetsi: “Inch kudur odar aghchig khaghtsunis, yep vor zhamanageh g’ikah garkuvis, Hai aghchig mun arnis.” Hormig: Inch khus muh sdibis? Mano: Ch’arneh isah, diya eriseh chim ouzim desnam. Bedk ch’ounim hayasouz hars. Kezi hartsunim. Bzdig dughat, Mardiguh, inch khus eh? Hormig: Koneh uni odarnirou chi kharnuvi. Paits, meg tuzhvaroutin mi ouni. Shad toul eh. Marak ch’ouni. G’usim iren, “Akli hokout! Ourishnireh, spaghvadzin, digh mi guh hasnin. Toun your is, hon is.” Pauses. Khighjis g’ikah. Mano: Mi houkah. Ter bzdig eh. Minzna, guh shudguvi. Hormig: Asdvadz tsenti imna. Bubo: Nono, Junjughougi Badmoutineh mezi badmeh. Others: Hah, badmeh. Nono: Or mi g’eghna, ch’eghna, junjughoug mi. G’erta, g’ika, g’erta, g’ika, jiveh poush mi guh shikvi. Fourounji koveh g’ertah, g’useh, “Es pousheh guh hanis?” En leh, g’useh, “Umunen sirov.” Pousheh guh haneh. Junjughoug guh tsikeh, g’erta. Hama, fourounjin poushin hideh inch mun eneh? Alavi mecheh guh tableh. Kich mi verch, junjughougeh zad g’ikah, g’useh, “Poushis dour.” Fourounjin leh g’useh, “Sants, sants, pan mi eh. Toun tsiketsir, katsir. Yes leh, poushin hideh, inch mun enim? Alavi mecheh tabletsi.” Junjughougeh g’seh, (Nono motions with fingers) “Gam poushis g’idas, gam hats mi g’idas. “Gam poushis g’idas, gam hats mi g’idas. Fourounjin . guh desna jar ch’igah, gelah hats mi g’ida Junjughouguh g’arneh hatseh, guh tsikeh. G’erta, g’ertah, g’ikah leran mi. ki choban mi nusdireh, poloureh makinir. Junjughougeh g’useh, “Es hatseh g’urnam kovit toghim? Yes kordzi vra im. Vercheh g’ikam, g’arnim.” “Umunen sirov,” g’useh chobaneh. Junjughoug guh tsikeh, g’erta. Hama, ariveh elir eh, choban le daktsir eh, kukhtsutsir eh. Achkeh hatsin vran eh. Ink iran g’useh, “Inch g’eghna, maki mi gtim, hatseh gati mecheh taghim, anoush mi oudiim? Eh, mun enim.” Makin guh gteh, hatseh gati mecheh guh tagheh, anoush mi g’oudeh. Hatseh guh tmmi. Kich mi vercheh, junjughougeh zad g’ikah, g’useh chobanin, “Hatsis dour.” En leh, g’useh, “Sants, sants pan mi eh. Ariveh elav, yes daktsah, kukhtsutsah. Hatseh makiyi gati mecheh taghetsi, gerah. Pan ch’mnats.” Junjughougeh g’seh (Nono motions with fingers) “Gam hatsis g’idas, gam makimi g’idas, “Gam hatsis g’idas, gam makimi g’idas.” Chobaneh guh desna jar ch’igah gelah maki mi g’idah. Junjughouguh g’arneh makin, (Ya, junjughoug mi gurna maki arneh?) guh tsikeh. G’erta, g’ertah, g’ikah harsnik mi. Pesah-in g’ertah, g’useh “Es makin g’urnam kovit toghim? Yes kordzi vrah im. Vercheh g’ikam, g’arnim.“ “Umunen sirov,” g’useh pesah-n.” Junjughougeh guh tsikeh, g’erta. Hama, sounkah aghvor mi g’oudin, guh gokhin, minchev oudelikuh guh bagsi. Pesah-i achkeh maki-i vran eh. G’useh, “Inch g’eghna es makin mortink, kabab shinink, musafurniroun gertsunink? Eh, mun enim.” Makin guh morteh, kabab guh shineh, umunoun guh gertsuneh. Umun meguh guh gushtanah. Junjughougeh zad g’ikah, g’useh pesah-in, “Makis dour.” En leh, g’useh, “Sants, sants pan mi eh. Mink hos harsnik g’enink. Oudelik ch’ mnats. Makin mortetsink, kabab shinetsink, umunoun g’ertsoutsink.” Junjughougeh g’seh (Nono motions with fingers) “Gam makis g’idas, gam arouseh .g’idas. gam makis g’idas, gam arouseh g’idas.” Pesah-n guh desna jar ch’igah gelah aruseh g’idah. Junjughougeh arouseh g’arneh, guh tsikeh. G’erta, g’ertah, g’ikah chouri kinareh, your ashough mi nusdireh dzari dag, saz guh chaleh. Junjughougeh g’useh ashoughin, “Es arouseh g’urnam kovit toghim? Yes kordzi vrah im. Vercheh g’ikam, g’arnim.“ “Umunen sirov,” g’useh ashougheh.” Junjughougeh guh tsikeh, g’erta. Ashugheh sazin yeghanagniroun dalmushir eh, chi desnah ki arouseh guh koghna, uskout mi, zad g’erta pesah-in koveh. Vercheh junjughougeh zad g’ikah, g’useh, “Arousis dour.” Ashougheh poloureh g’iyah, arouseh chi desna, g’useh,”Anbajar arouseh zad knats pesah-in koveh." Junjughougeh g’seh (Nono motions with fingers) “Gam arousis g’idas, gam sazeh g’idas. gam arousis g’idas, gam sazeh g’idas.” Ashougheh guh desna jar ch’iga gela sazeh g’idah. Junjughougeh sazeh g’arneh, dzari mecheh guh turnah. Joughi mi vrah guh nusdi. G’usgusi chaleh, yev yerkeh, “Toum buttoum, Mardina buttoum. Poushi digheh, hats mi ara, hatsi digheh, maki mi ara, maki-i digheh, arous mi ara, arousi digheh, saz mi ara. Yes leh, hama, ashough egha.”

Applause! Nono: Bubo, kinas vov shad guh garodnam? Bubo: Vov? Nono: Armenuh. Bubo: Babamianuh? Nono: Ourish Armen iga? Bubo: Cheh; meg hadig eh. Nono: Guh hishim ki Armenuh shad guh sirer babou masin badmer. Azab eghadz adineh yep vor babou douneh ter guh punager, kordzen doun egav, or mi, yev mamoun hartsouts, “Babis inchou eriseh surchireh? Mameh badaskhanits, “Akhperti, Antron, zhoumuleh baboun shrump usats.” Hama, Antraniguh pavagan hasagov er, paitz babeh garj boyov er. Dughan babou vran guh khunda shrimp ganchelov Anka mi leh, paregam mi egav desnelou, Usats, “Ohan, skancheli digh mi kdah ki harmar eh vor klinchi khanot panas. Ego, danim, tsutsunim. Autombilis hos eh.” Guh daneh digh mi knas ki andari kimi. G’useh, “Inch guh khoris?” Ohaneh esten, enten g’iya, guseh, “Meg hartsoum mi ounim. Es dighi junjughougnireh pantulo guh haknin? Armenuh, babou kimi, gadagchi er. Useh digh mun erta megou mi hid. En le dinj guh zhazha. Armenuh g’ouzeh aveli arak ertah. Kanteh useh, “Vurit zhastsou,” guh tarkmaneh krapari, “Sharzhetsialn vorn yuroh.” Bubo: Mir Dikranagerdtsi parparuh skancheli lezou eh. Paits, tursetsinireh tuzhvaroutinov guh sovrin. Mir lezoun pavagan krapar khoskir ouni. Yah toun, ki tursetsinireh Englishi g’usin Anklieren. Khosh, mink g’usink Ankghieren. Kraparov g’usvi Hankghiagann. Mievnoun eh sorvili hid. Mink g’usink sovril. Kraparuh sovoril eh. Mart igah ki guh khorin te mir parparuh tourin eh sovril. Midtkis g’ikah Srpazan Hrant Khachadourian, oghurmadz eh , ki Sassountsi bab ouner. Mameh Dikranagerdtsi er, paits dan mecheh parpareh cher kordzadzer. Yep vor Srpazaneh mir hidner, gu portser mezi kimi khosa. Paits haidni er ki haskutsadzuh dgar er. Ink guh khori ki umun khosk ki mecheh, o ouni ou gusvi, yev umun khosk ki ou ouni, o g’usvi. Or mi, khundalov, usetsi iran, “Ya sim! Mink touri digheh, tor g’usink. Pori digheh, pour g’usink. Paits, pouri digheh, fouroun g’usink.” Yerpemun mir parparuh aveli jisht eh kanteh ashkharaparuh. Paits, tursetsinireh usi chin haskunan. Mir vran guh khundan. Khosh, mink ink ki irents vran iravounk ounink khundalou. Or mi, babous hartsoutsi, “Inchou mink tursetsiniroun ‘jajukh’ guh ganchink?” Ink leh, badaskhanits, “Vorov chouroug pan mi in.” Yes le usetsi, “Ananguheh, mink mezi inch guh ganchink?” Usats, “Mink bulghour ink!” Babis leh gadagji er. Bzdig akhpersi anouneh tradzer Sarkis Haroutiun. Sarkis, vorovedev, ink akhper mi ouner en anounov, Haroutiun, vorovedev, Zadig or dzuv. Hama, gadagov, babis akhpersi guh gancher Kachal Sarkis. Paits, ki kesh ch’uska, amichabes, g’user, “Haroutin, shakri koutin.” Darinir vercheh, haskutsa ki, Dikranagerd iragan meg mi ga ki anouneh Kachal Sarkis er. Ourish pan mi midtkis g’ika babous masin. G’user ki ourish azk ch’iga ki mir azkanoun kimi ounin. Meg mi dzanot er ki anouneh Shilkevorkian er. Shil usel eh dzour achk, ki nirs guh tarna. Mievnoun adineh, ourish megoum mi dzanot er ki anouneh Shashoian er. Hama, shash leh dzour achk eh, paits tours guh tarna. Nono: Guhnig, kahva mi shineh mir musafurnerou, guh hajis. Mano: Kakoulayov? Nono; Ha, ba! Oudis bagh Kiba! Arants kakoulayov, inch guh haskutsvi? Mano: Shakar? Nono: Purtoun mi. Mano: Agheg. Exits Nono: Bubo, ego, Khojayi badmoutin mi badmeh. Hormig; Ha! Aghvor guh salghis. Bubo: Ouzadzti. Or mi Nasr-ed-din Khojan kesh vijagi mech guh kudnuvi. Shad zhamunag ch’mnats abrelou, yev umun meguh kinah. Bargadz digheh, dughan koveh nusdadz, dughoun nishan mi g'idah, yev dughan guh modgunah, guh hartsuneh, "Inch eh, Hairig?" Khojan g'uhseh, "Dughas, Mairigit nour epvadz kadayifin anoush houdeh g'arnim. Kna hartsou yeteh gurnah bzdig gudour mi idah , ki en hameh peranis mnah yepvor Asd-dzou hreshdageh ikah ergink daneh. "Ayo, Hairig," dughan g'useh, yev guh tsikeh. Kich mi verch, dughan guh veratarna, barab tserkov. Khojan g'useh, "Hokit sirim, inch eh?" Dughan g'useh,"Mairiguh usats ki chis gurnas ounenas." Khojan g'useh, "Kadart arnim. Inchou cheh?" Dughan g'useh, "vorovedev, guh biyeh Hokejashi hamar." Mano brings in the coffee in demitasse cups and serves everyone. Bubo: (Sips coffee) Inch hamov eh! Tserkut talar, Mano! Mano: Anoush eghna. Bubo: Nono, ginigti shad aghvor kaghva guh badrasteh. Nono: Yev skancheli desagov kavat guh garta. Mart iga, ki guh khorin gartal kinan, khosh portsaroutin ch’ounin. Midkis g’ika ki zhamunagin Beirut pzhishk mi eghadz er ki aghustanki neghoutini masnaked er. Hivand meg mi egav knnelou. Pzhishkuh hartsouts “Toun mer Haigagan sourjuh guh khumes?” En leh usats, “Ayo.” “Ouremun, kavati munadzneruh, bahe, yev dagut kseh. Kal shapat yed yegour.” Marteh pzhishkin ouzadzeh g’uneh, yev guh veratarna. Knnasenyagi mech, pantulon yev vardikeh g’ichetsneh yev guh dzuri. Pzhishkuh ergan adin g’arneh khosaluh. Verchabes, g’useh, “Guh desnam vor andzanot meg muh kezi shad medz parikmuh bidi nvireh.” Haidni eh vor martin faleh guh garta. Everyone laughs. Hormig: Mano, egoh, kavatis gartah. Mano takes cup, turns it over, and studies it. Mano: Guh desnam ki ergan jampa mun ertas. Hormig: Zarmunali pan! Es verchireh, papak ounim kourigsi ertam desnalou ki khorou digh guh pnagi. Ourish ? Mano: Shad cheh. Pavagan makour kavat eh. Paits, bzdig mout pan mi gerevna. Kinas ki meg mi vrat guh khosa. Hormig: Oghoul! Anounsi elav. Mano: Mi houka. Shoud mi mun antsuni. Hormig: Park Asd-dzou! Mano to Hormig: Ego, tsutsunim inch pousnireh mir bardezi mech. (Exit) Nono: Bubo, ego, oyin mi Tavli khaghank. Bubo: Pir. Shareh. Boyit desnank. Playing. After a while… Nono: Nigh digh munatsiris. Bubo: Manganayi mech purniris. Nono: Yek mi bedk ounis. Casting dice, calls out; Bubo: Havou achk! Double six comes up Nono: (laughing) Dageh mnats! Ergou vits elav. Bubo: Vai, ishou havgit! Nono: (Casting dice) Dou shash! Hama, im garkis egav dou shash tablelou. Bubo: Pakhdavor is. (Casts dice) Havou achk! Nono: Hech pan. Bubo: Kher nanzim! Nono: (Casts dice) Zhoumule dou shash. Bubo: Eh. herik eh. (casts dice) Nono: Zorov, morov, barab digh. Bubo: Vaireni zar! Nono: (Casts dice) Dou shash! Bubo: Gana? (Casts dice) Nono: Jar ch’igah.

Bubo: Seleh daneh.

Nono; (Casts dice): Dou shash! Pakht eh. Bubo: Chours ankam megeh miusin ediveh, pakht ch’eh. Nono: Ha, ba, inch eh? Bubo: Zar purnil eh. Nono: Inch g’usis? Es kudur adin irarou kinank, voyeveh adin desiris khalabazoutin eradzis? Bubo: Umun pani arachin ankamuh iga. Nono: Hama harsis mun ela. Bubo: Kinas en harsin hideh inch gurnas enis. Their cursing gets progressively louder Nono: Knah siktirvi! Bubo: Kezi leh, babout leh Nono: Vai, pezevang! Bubo: Vai, kbragh! Nono: Kakhanachi! Bubo: Kounviouhanadz! Nono: Kakhpharif! Bubo: Kakhpoli! Women rush in from outside to see what all the noise is about. Hormig: Inch eh es tashkila, gurulti? Nono: Erigti yesi guh meghatre, g’useh ki zar guh purnim! Mano: Megha Der! Nants pan g’eghna? Hormig: Erigsi nants useh, isah, anbajar jisht eh. Their cursing gets progressively louder Mano: Dount avri! Erigsi khapebah che. Hormig: Poshin vrat ikah! Mano: Kedineh mnnas! Hormig: Achkit korna! Mano: Shouneh eristi shreh! Bubo: Ego, ginig, es sifatsouz esherou hid kordz ch’ounink diya. Hormig: Nahlat tsezi! (Mano): With one cheek puffed out, she clasps together, the thumb and fingers of the hand on the same side as the puffed cheek, and strikes the cheek, making a loud vulgar sound, and then symbolically throws the clasped fingers in the direction of Bubo and Hormig. Bubo and Hormig depart hurriedly, slamming the door behind them. Nono and Mano stare at each other for several moments before speaking.

Nono: Inch eghav, Mano?

Mano: Yes le chim kinam.

Nono: Choursus klokhnis gortsutsink, koufournirov, kuzhalov.

Mano: Suduni kordz eh. Hama inch mun enink?

Nono: Pan mi leh ch'mnenink. Yes kinam Bubon. Ergou or antsuni muh poushmuni, yev ikah useh "Megha Der." Yes leh mun usim, "Megha Der." Zhoumuleh paregam mun eghnank.

Mano: Ouremn, hedo, Hormigeh yev yes noren paregam g'eghnank?

Nono: Anshousht! Es kudur dari paregamoutineh chi tsukvi bzdig khuntiri hamar. Chi vaileh Dikranagerdtsi sants varvi. Mink Bulghour ink, Bulghour muh mnank!

Curtain descends Copyright © 2021 C.K. Garabed