Saddam Hussein's love story runs to a full house
aryanviking
Baghdad, April 27
An adaption of President Saddam Hussein's best-selling novel "Zabibah
and the King" scored an official hit Friday night when it opened before
an establishment audience at Iraq's National Theatre.
In a society where praise for the ominpotent president is the only
comment tolerated, director Sami Abdul Hamid explained to journalists
that the hand-picked audience of 400 had loved it.
"Zabibah wal-Malik" tells the tale of a sovereign who falls in love with
a common girl, a symbol of the hopes of the people.
Abdul Hamid confirmed that Saddam was indeed the author of the epic
published in November 2000, an open secret in Iraq after the
unprecedented publicity which accompanied the book launch.
"The play won the admiration of the audience and all those who worked on
it were equal to the responsibility given to them to produce a play
adapted from the novel "Zabibah and the King" by President Saddam
Hussein," Abdul Hamid said after the show put on by the information
ministry in central Baghdad.
Culture Minister Hamed Yussef Hammad and Health Minister Umid Medhat
Mubarak topped the list of very official guests decked out in their best
suits and ties, escorting bejewelled women in all their finery.
Leading actors Faisal Jawad and Karim Mohsen alternated in the role of
the king while Suha Salem shone as the peasant Zabibah.
The production -- nine months in the rehearsal -- was the best Baghdad
can offer: splendid costumes, magnificent scenery and lighting, all set
to a stirring mix of martial and folk music.
The good king wants to be closer to his subjects, but is blocked by his
corrupt entourage in the pay of a foreign power.
A chance meeting with Zabibah changes his life. Rich merchants, the Jew
Hasqel, who speculates against the national currency, and Zabibah's
husband all plot with the enemy against the homeland.
On the day of the decisive battle, the king rallies to his own people
and the enemy is defeated. Zabiba dies in the fighting and becomes the
"people's martyr".
A people's assembly is called to decide whether to abolish the monarchy.
The workers are set to say yes, the bourgeoisie no.
As the debate turns nasty, news breaks that the king is dead, from
natrual causes. The people take power.
"It's a marvellous play," said 27-year-old student Mohammad Madallah.
"It highlights Arab leaders who are under foreign influences," he told
AFP.
"You can see it cost a lot of money to put on such a production," said
civil servant Majed al-Azawi.
For Fine Arts school teacher Abdul Monsef al-Zaydi: "The scale of the
production, the number of actors (about 50) and the quality of the
performance leave an agreeable sense of bedazzlement.
"Iraqis know how to read betweeen the lines and they will understand the
message the play carries," he added.
Outside the stagedoor, actor Yussef Sawass, who played Hasquel, is
congratulated on his performance. "I like playing such complex and
treacherous roles. The hatred I put into it inspires me," he said
Karim Mohsen added: "We are proud of this legend which traces the
history of the struggle of the Iraqi people."
A second novel said to be from the pen of Saddam Hussein, "The
Impregnable Fortress", was released last December. Two other books
attributed to the president are also expected out before the end of this
year.
The play was put on as part of a week of celebrations to mark Saddam's
65th birthday on Sunday.