Lebanon's Qawalin Theatrical Troupe is causing a stir with its play Visa, which deals with the lives of Lebanese people who want to leave the country to seek a "normal" life abroad, according to the daily Al Hayat.
The play tackles the situation from different angles and handles it in a humorous way. Although the play causes the viewer to laugh, it does not overlook the harsh situation, whichmakes the chuckles taste bittersweet.
The main theme of the play is summed up in a scene in which the stage is dominated by a sign reading “World Embassy."
A woman responsible for all the world's embassies sits in front of the sign with visa stamps for every country.
This scene depicts the painful reality of the Lebanese, who are ready to go anywhere to live a normal life.
“Visa...obtain a visa for everywhere...visa for outside Lebanon"...these lines open one of the play's songs.
The work develops the “Lebanese visa” into a commodity offered everywhere. The song’s words inscribe their meanings in the conscience, causing pain despite eliciting laughter.
Costarring in the play's current run at Beirut’s Kaslik Olympia are Pierre Shamassian, Andre Jadaa, Laila Stefan, Fadi Charbel and Karin Charbel – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
