Fantasy in Modern Egyptian Drama

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to spotlight the Arabic dramatic works in modern Egypt ( produced during the second half of the twentieth century and a little after), that are based on fantasy aspects. These plays are usually mingled with elements of science fiction, mirabilia, fairytales, travel journeys, animal stories, utopian dreams, dystopian nightmares. A few Egyptian playwrights have experimented in both science and dark fantasy mixed with folkloric and mythic components. This study highlights these fantasy plays, featuring: Tawfiq alHakim’s Ahl el-Kahf ( The People of the Cave,1933), Shhrazad (Scheherazade,1934), Al-Mukhrij ( The Film Director), Bayt al-Naml ( The House of Ants ), Nahr al-Junun ( The River of Madness,1935), Rehla ela al-Ghad ( Voyage to Tomorrow), Not a Thing out of Place (1966), Awdat el-Shabab ( The Return of Consciousness,1974), Sha’er ala el-Qamar ( A Poet on the Moon), Taqreer Qamary ( A Lunar Report), ElSultan El-Ha’er ( The Sultan’s Dilemma,), Izis(Isis,1955), Al-Ta’am li-kul fam ( Food for Every Mouth,1963); Saad Makkawi’s al-Maiet wal-Haii ( The Living Dead,1973), Lutfi Al-Khuli’s al-Aranib (The Rabbits,1964), No’man Ashur’s Lu’bat al-Zamen (Time Game,1980); Farouk Khorshid’s Habazlem Bazaza ( The Wines of Babylon,1967); Ali Salim’s Il-Nas illi fill-Sama’l-Tamina ( The People in the Eighth Heaven, 1963), Yusuf Idris’s al-Jins al-Thalith (The Third Sex,1971), and other marvelous plays.