The Chaprasts

Vahe H. Apelian

 

Yetvart Chaprast

Recently, I came across two pictures of mine with brothers Berge and Vazken Chaprast / Tchaprast taken on the veranda of Hotel Lux my father ran, in Beirut. Berge and Vazken are the sons of acclaimed Armenian stage actor Yetvart Chaprast. I posted the two pictures on the Facebook in the hopes of connecting with them.

My curiosity was also driven by my remembrance of the interest their father had generated to Garo Kevorkian, who compiled a yearbook called “Everyone’s Yearbook – Amenoun Darekirk – Ամէն Տարիգիրքը” which depicted the noteworthy personalities and events of the Armenian Diaspora for the year. Garo Kevorkian was a regular visitor because most of the guests of Hotel Lux were Armenians from different parts of the world who, in hindsight, I imagine could have been helped Garo Kevorkian in compiling his yearbook. The proceeds from the sale of the yearbook I was told, was Garo Kevorkian’s only source of income. 

Regretfully I did not come across any such article when I perused the digitalized copies of the “Amenoun Darekirk”. I am certain of Garo Kevorkian probing Yetvart Chaprast about the history of the Armenian theater. But to no avail, I could not come across such an article but, I came across a report about a jubilee that was held in Lebanon in 1966 in honor of Yetvart Chaprast in recognition of his contribution to the Armenian theater. The report was posted on June 26, 1966 in Aztag Daily and is titled “A jubilee evening dedicated to actor Yetvart Chaprast”. Attached is my translation of the article:

With brothers Berge and Vazken Chaprast

***

“The jubilee evening dedicated to actor Yetvart Tchapraste for his many years of stage acting took place in the "Galouste Gulbenkian" auditorium on Sunday, June 12 (1966), at 8:30 p.m. under the patronage of the Archbishop Dajad (note:Ourfalian, the prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Lebanon, 1963-1978) . The evening was the initiative of the “Haig Club”.

An art-loving select society had come to honor the distinguished actor. The opening speech was made by "Haig Club" chairman Dikran Tospath (Տիգրան Թոսպաթ).

The "Gaspar Ipekian - Գասպար Իփէկեան" theater group of "Hamazkayin" presented  “Houzoum – Յուզումը” by Nshan Beshiktashlian (Ն. Պէշիկթաշլեան). It was a group art performance.  The well-known amateur actor Vartkes Vartabedian (ՎարդգէսՎարդապետեան), distinguished himself with his play

The jubilee Yetvart Chaprast acted few scenes from Hagop Baronian’s (Յ. Պարոնեան) "Honorable Beggars  - Մեծապատիւ մուրացկանները» comedy.

In the role of Apisoghom agha (Աբիսողոմ աղայ), Chaprast, with the wonderful performance of his art, often received standing ovation. Well-known amateur artists, especially Khachik Araratian (Խաչիկ Արարատեան), in his role as the poet, and Tavit Evereklian (Դաւիթ Էվերեկլեան) and Levon Hreshdagian (Լեւոն Հրեշտակեան) also had commendable performances.

The speaker of the day, Yetvart Dasnabedian (Եդուարդ Տասնապետեան)   presented the life and the work of the jubilee Yetvart Chaprast with a well-deserved appreciation.

Then George Sarkissian (Ժորժ Սարգիսեան), the director of "Kaspar Ipekian - Գասպար Իփէկեան» theater groupe, read the Hamazkayin Central Committee’s congratulatory letter addressed to the jubilee.

The celebrants expressed their unconditional appreciation of the jubilee with a long applause.

Deeply moved by this honor, Yetvart Chaprast expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone, present. The jubilee evening was closed with congratulatory words and well wishes to the jubilee by the reverend father. the prelate.

Indeed, Yetvart Chaprast has been a popular and sought-after actor. He has a rich stage presence. He performed for the first time in Istanbul. He has been in all suburbs of Istanbul from where in 1922, he has moved to the Caucasus and subsequently to Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy and the United States.

The Lebanese Armenians thus expressed their unconditional and warm appreciation of the gifted Armenian stage actor Yetvart Chaprast for his many years service to the Armenian theater.”

***

I have not made contact with Berge or Vazken Chaprast yet. But two commented. Garbis Baghdassarian wrote: “this was in New York on 14 of July in late 70s to celebrate tBastille day I went with a friend to a French restaurant called “Les sans culottes” next to our table there was a couple which we got into a conversation and coincidentally the guy was Berge Tchaprasd with his wife I think her name was (Bonnie) not sure.they were in a traveling theater show in the country.”

Not surprisingly, Sona Aslanian commented the following: “I remember Chaprast well in Watertown. My Dad, Sarkis Dedekian, along with his friends, Paul Nahabedian, Vahram DerParseghian etc., were all in his theatre group. I have given pictures of them all to the museum and the Hairenik I don’t ever remember his family and don’t remember anything about him outside of the theater.”

The name Chaprast / Tchaprast remains tied to the Armenian theater, along the names of other Armenian theater luminaries. 

Yetvart Chaprast presenting Hagop Baronian's "Honorable Beggars"
 in Baghdad, Iraq, assumed to be in 1930's