With tonight’s debut of “Al Qadiya 2007 (The Cause 2007) at the Opera House’s Al Hanager Art Center the stage documentary genre comes back strong to Cairo’s theater scene.
Written by Yousri Al Gindi, directed by Hassan Al Wazir and starring Sawsan Badr and Ahmed Halawa, “The Cause 2007 is a dramatization of hot-off-the-presses social, economic and political issues.
Although it the genre had disappeared from local theater years ago, in 2000 it began making a comeback European capitals London and Paris.
The play aims to drive home, in sheer documentary terms, how following five decades of conflict, the Palestinian tragedy and the return of the Jews from the Diaspora, are at the heart of all the world’s tragedies.
The play was originally slated to open in December under the title “The Cause 2006 but was bumped more than once.
When the opening was pushed back new rehearsals were carried especially since comedian Ahmed Rateb who was starring the show, bowed out and was replaced by Halawa.
But for Al Gindi the play has been delayed for 30 years, not merely a few months.
First produced in 1972, it was banned by late president Anwar Sadat after an initial run of a few days. Back then, the lead character was played by the late stage veteran Karam Mutawa.
It was also banned from running overseas when a provincial theater troupe prepared to perform it in an Arab country.
Al Gindi told The Daily Star Egypt: “After all these years it is still valid and will always be so as long as the more powerful continue to massacre, starve and displace people; as long as efforts to wipe out human suffering induced by political injustices against the Palestinians remain stagnant.
Originally titled “The Lost Jew , “The Cause 2007 tells the story of Isaac (Halawa), a Jew who laments the persecution of his forefathers and boasts his new homeland Israel.
A group of Palestinian Christians mourn the suffering of their people at the hands of the occupier and place their faith in the return of Christ the Savior.
Ironically as time passes, their hopes are dashed for they are told this prophecy is only a mirage and that the real Savior is the American Christ.
He is a savior that favors Isaac and threatens to crush the rest of the nations and peoples if they do not succumb to his will.
Isaac recounts the history of the Jews but his narrative is interrupted and contradicted by Thaat Al Ridaa (which literally means “the hooded one ) played by Sawsan Badr, an angelic figure that stands for truthfulness and compassion.
Their disputes lead to the conclusion that not only the Palestinian plight, but all tragedies worldwide, are triggered by similar oppressive colonial practices which are turning earth into a battlefield.
This is the biggest issue of 2007 and that of many years to come as long as the same crimes continue to be perpetrated against humanity.
The show is accented with Palestinian folklore dances and songs as well as by footage of documentaries playing on small screens in the backdrop.
A special tribute should also be paid to Badr for a brilliant performance. Without the traditional orator-style approach adopted in this genre, she has still managed to convey a perfectly nuanced spirit of regret and compassion through her gestures, facial expressions and voice.
This is a highly engaging performance reinforced by a brilliant production that, thanks to the directives and dedication of Hoda Wasfi, director of Al Hanager, is a must-see to kick off the 2007 season.
