Maysoon Zahid at the Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
The Epstein Theatre has already established itself as a theatre of repute in the last few weeks as it has hosted the superb play about Brian Epstein’s life to incredible audiences and stunning reactions from crowds. With a rare day off for the theatre with the festive period rapidly approaching, the stalls were filled for the launch of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival’s Funny Arabs introduced by Razanne Carmey.
The afternoon, which was opened by one of Liverpool’s favourite sons, the irreplaceable Alexei Sayle, not only introduced Funny Arabs but brought the delightful and incredible passionate comedy of Maysoon Zahid. The American-Palestinian comedian who lives with Cerebral-Palsy made her way to Liverpool from London and to great applause spoke with great humour and in parts incredibly candidly about her life growing up in the American state of New Jersey and the mix-ups of her life there with well-meaning friends and her trips to Palestine with her sisters.
It’s rare for a comic to generate so much comicality and yet so much information about a world situation to an audience that may be completely in the dark of what is going in that part of the world. Where Maysoon’s creativity comes from is easy to see but as she happily points outs, it’s not all she is but it is her. A rare talent is to be able to charm an audience whilst drawing attention to what drives you, in this Ms. Maysoon is a genuine and brilliant comic genius.
With Alexei Sayle in attendance, the audience were transported back to his early days and a few interludes in his life and beautiful stories of his mum. The news that he has been away from stand –up for 17 years but was going to come back to the medium was greeted with usual Liverpool warmth.
An afternoon of great comedy at the Epstein Theatre and one to savour at the thought of for next year’s events.
The Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival is on between the 7th and 16th June next year. More information about L.A.A.F.’s Funny Arabs can be found on the website www.arabicartsfestival.co.uk
Ian D. Hall