The Caravan

In the next three weeks, private universities all over Egypt will be setting up branches of an organization called “For a Better Egypt” in an attempt to tackle Egypt’s problems one step or project at a time.
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Three short-listed scripts performed at Art Fest

By Shahira Hamza

Caravan Reporter

Three playwrights competed for first prize at the performing and visual arts department’s (PVA) Arts Fest on May 10 at the American University in Cairo (AUC). The winner, which had not been announced at press time, received a gift certificate from the AUC bookstore.
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Bussy play hits Howard again

Courtesy of Mariham Iskandar

BUSSY BUSSY BUSSY: Nesrine Basher in a rehearsal for one of the 29 skits that will be performed at AUC.

By Asdghig Yeranossian
News Editor

Featuring 29 skits drawn from real-life stories about controversial sexual issues, the third annual Bussy play will be held April 13-15 in the Howard Theatre at the American University in Cairo ( AUC ).
“The play has a dual purpose; it’s a healing process for a lot of the authors to have their stories heard; usually [the author writes them] anonymously, creating a sense of security for them. Secondly, it brings up topics that need to be addressed in a different way, other than in lectures and classes,” said Yasmine Khalifa, Bussy president, co-director of the play and a graduate student at AUC.
This year, Bussy is trying to make the play more inviting for both genders. Sondos Shabayek, co-director of the play and managing editor of Ehna, an Arabic magazine, explained that in the last two years people had gotten the impression that males weren’t welcome, but this year they stressed that even male stories were welcome. “We have more male stories [this year],” she said.
Mona Mahfouz, a computer science senior and one of the actresses, is involved in two skits. The first is a monologue and in the second she plays four roles: the mother, two grandmothers and aunt, “taunt Mevat,” who are trying to marry off a young girl.
“It’s so much fun; its exciting and challenging. What I like about Bussy is that it’s so real…it will hit some chords if you’ve lived in Egypt,” said Shabayek, adding that the main point is to increase awareness and make people think twice before doing things that are taken for granted.
“We are trying to give women a voice to talk about things that people don’t want to talk about, and it’s not just harassment,” said Shabayek.
“The first two years were a great success and we are excited about the play this year,” said Khalifa.
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