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The Dictator
Written By
Issam Mahfouz
Translated By
Robert Myers and Nada Saab
Directed By
Hunter Abal
Debuted
December 2024
Location
Valencia, CA
Hunter Abal has been a frequent collaborator with Park Lytle throughout their academic careers at CalArts. With curricular productions of Herakles and Danton's Death done together, Hunter organized with Shackleton Theatrics to produce their first project together outside of the academic sphere.
The Dictator proved to be an intense emotional experience for all parties involved, providing humor and heartbreak in equal quantities. Hunter Abal strives to bring Arab art and voice to American audiences and took a strong step towards his goal through his production.
The Dictator is a one-act absurdist written by Issam Mahfouz and translated by Robert Myers and Nada Saab. It depicts the attempted coup of an erratic figure simply titled "The General" with the help of his enigmatic assistant "Saadoun." Hunter Abal tackles this 60 minute romp with glee and focus as he carefully balances Mahfouz's whimsical humor with the deeper themes of authoritarianism and grief. The Dictator runs in CalArts' Coffeehouse Theater on December 7th and 8th with two evening performances and a matinee on Saturday.
