Letter to Mr. President, is the title of a daring play showing in Damascus, in which actors criticize officials from the top down.
Almost every night, lead actor Bashar Ismail speaks out in front of a half-full auditorium, without sticking to the play text, mostly improvising in his harsh criticism of government officials and the rich "state protégés".
Ismail asserts he "does not fear to be arrested by the authorities".
Ismail chose the personality of former vice president Abdel Halim Khaddam to hint through him to other officials known for their abuse of power and corruption. Khaddam who broke away from the ruling Baath regime last year, accused Syrian officials of corruption and wrongdoing, prompting counter accusations of corruption during his 40 years in power.
Ismail, who describes his play as a political theater, lashes out at the administration with irony and humor. For instance, he jokes that government representatives screen university students for senior public jobs and choose the most stupid in line with the principle "the right idiot in the right post".
The actor, who is also the producer, comments his theater reflects the thinking and grudges of the public who "love the president but dislike most of the people around him who like Khaddam are plagued with corruption".
Syrian playwrights are divided in describing this type of theater, as many contend true political theater does not really exist in Syria.
Playwright and actor Lakman Derki stresses "no genuine political theater exists in Syria and the few experiences in that domain are mostly hypocrite and seek to flirt with the authorities, whereas real critical theater usually leads to confrontation with the authorities".
Derki who produced a successful critical play in 2002 titled "Permitted in Syria," said he could not repeat that experience in his later play "Coup d'etat" because of censorship.
New play mocks Syrian regime
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