For the third time, the National Theatre has extended the staging of Al-Motafael (The Optimist) for an additional four weeks. 

 

The play is an Egyptian adaptation of the classic novella Candide, written by French philosopher François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) in the 1750s.

 

"After great public success since it premiered in July, the show has been extended for another four weeks," read a statement by the Theatre Artistic House.

 

Directed and adapted for the theatre by Islam Imam, Al-Motafael stars comedian Sameh Hussein, who launched his artistic career from the theatre and moved on to cinema.

 

Hussein's debut was Khaled Galal's 2002 direction of Lenin El-Ramly's Teheb Tshoof Maasah? ("Do You Want to Witness a Tragedy?"). He appeared in some 150 plays in various private and state theatres since.

 

In Al-Motafael, the 43-year-old actor shares the stage with Sahar El-Sayegh, Youssef Ismail, Ezzat Zein, Sawsan Rabie, Ayat Magdi, Tamer El-Kashef, Amgad El-Haggar, Zakaria Marouf, singer Mostafa Sami, and a group of the National Theatre's youngsters.

 

Al-Motafael's music is composed by Hisham Gabr, with poems and lyrics written by Tarek Ali.