The great (often hidden) sides of the coin or the Puppet show for adults.


If there are several hard aspects - incomprehensible to my own "limited" mind - about living in Cairo (which does not represent the whole Egypt and egyptians), I must say that there are also magical reasons to LOVE this city and this country.

Let s not forget ( as criticals and foreigners do much frequently, me included) that Cairo is a major jungle in the center of the Middle East and Africa. Millions of people circulate in this overcrowded city, literally, "running for their lives" and they have to compete in a marathon full of holes, traps, dirty spots on the road and many scorpions who will bite you and aniquilate you if they see you run better/faster than them.

Frank Sinatra said in the famous song "New York, New York":

"If I can make it there, I ll make it anywhere..."
I have a sure impression that he was singing about Cairo, not New York.

New York was just a secret code word he used in order not to cause any stirr about cross cultural matters.

Although New york is, in its own style, another kind of jungle where so many people are trying to get the same pieces of cake, the corruption and the lack of humanity has not reached the point where Cairo is, devilishly, seated.
If you can MAKE IT in Cairo without turning yourself into a "son/daughter of a bitch" then you should be considered a hero and statues should be sculpted on your honour.
Talent, honesty, hard work and competence are not rewarded but seen as dangerous treats that will, eventually, corrupt the dirty order of lobbies and mafias existent in every single area in this country.
The smart asses who can cheat, steal, lie and play the diplomatic dirty games required by a corrupted system are the WINNERS and it s a miracle when someone can break this chain and still be SUCCESSFUL!

Now...there are two sides to every coin/story.
I could not stop to smile when I was heading to my home, in Zamalek, and saw the advertisement for one more of the already famous Puppet shows at the "El Sewy Centre" in the same zone of Zamalek.
I think this centre is a blessed place, giving opportunity to so many wonderful artist of all areas to show their work in a respectable environment where people understand and appreciate ART.
Sure I already had many doors shut on my face there, when proposing Oriental Dance shows, but I guess that asking a mainstream cultural place to accept its own egyptian dance is STILL asking for way too much...

I ve been in some of these puppet shows related with Om Kolthoum and Abdel Halim Hafez and felt surprised and delighted to see children and, mostly, adults crying and smiling over a few puppets on stage pretending to be the famous singers and their orchestras.
Now it was time for "The Beatles" puppet show and it s all sold out.
In which other country would you find adults filling a theatre to watch and feel emotionally taken by puppets?!

I find in egyptian people the kind of sense of humour, wonder and innocence that they have almost forgot. In times like these where everybody seems to be becoming a wild animal just to save his own ass, it s endearing and lovely to watch these simple facts that show me that not everything is lost.
If adults can be faithful audiences to puppet shows like the ones I watched at this centre, then they haven t totally lost their heart yet. There is still hope!
They re still alive, still children at heart, still carrying some white, clean territories in the polluted ground of their souls.

It s wonderful to be able to find the beautiful sides of these coins. Everywhere.