Satire a la Syrian

The Lebanese Daily Star has a review of The Night Baghdad Fell, a satirical play by playwright (and engineer) Houmam Al-Hout, which is showing to sold-out crowds in Syria and will soon move to Beirut and Cairo.

The Al-Jazeera newsreader speaks frantically of occupiers entering Iraq. The seductively attired Lebanese anchorwoman warns soldiers not to forget to apply tanning oil under the scorching Iraqi sun. If they’re killed, at least they’ll look good at the funeral. The US newsreader dons a cowboy hat and hee-haws promises of liberation and democratic change.

The play is said to be popular particularly because of its criticism of corruption of problems in Arab societies: corruption, disengagement, and economic failures, though it steers clear of direct criticism of the Syrian president.