Media Archive

Love. Music. Freedom. These are the universal themes at the heart of “We Live in Cairo…” Set during the January 25 Revolution, the 2011 uprising in Egypt, the work…celebrates the hope and exuberance of the uprising, even as it acknowledges the turmoil that has followed.

EDGE: This play really is an homage to the young people in Egypt, and all over the world, who dare to stand up and face off with the powers that be in order to advocate for themselves and their future. Is that something you each can personally relate to in some way?

When they first began writing the play, Daniel and Patrick were 19 and 23 respectively. They wanted to capture this very seminal, inspiring moment of revolution in Egypt. As Lebanese Americans who grew up celebrating Arab culture, they sought to create a play that would combat the negative, post-9/11 portrayal of the Middle East in the Western media.

The initial inspiration for the musical came when Patrick Lazour saw a photograph…published in The New York Times [that] shows Egyptian youths gathered around a glowing laptop during the Arab Spring. “They were our age, risking their lives,” Daniel Lazour said.

“The rhythms of Arabic music lend themselves to theater because they’re so infectious and driving,” said Patrick…“And there’s a long tradition of activist protest music.”

The Lazours and their director, Taibi Magar, want to explore what unfolded in the eight years since the events of the revolution and ask hard questions. “What is the nature of activism? Is activism personal? Is it political?” Patrick says. “When is it time to act? When is it time to step aside? Is it ever time to step aside? And how far does one go, how much does one sacrifice, for the love of one’s country?”

“A lot of it has to do with celebrating my poor life choices. Looking back at mistakes you have made, that it has been long enough that you can now laugh at it. “Pickled” is just another way for me to look at how I deal with getting older. Also, just having way too many martinis and feeling pickled that way.”